In their opening game on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks, the Avalanche mounted a comeback after falling behind 2-0 thanks to Jason Polin’s powerplay goal off a cross-slot pass from Cal Ritchie. Oskar Olausson also scored in the third period, but the Ducks held on for a 4-3 victory. Max Curran added another powerplay goal late in the game.
On Saturday, the Avalanche were overpowered by the Seattle Kraken losing 5-1. Polin scored the lone goal and Ivan Ivan showed his trademark energy throughout the game.
The weekend concluded with a 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Monday. The Avalanche jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals from Matt Stienburg and Benjamin Brunelle, but the Sharks responded with five unanswered goals. Game 3 was wrought with undisciplined play that disrupted the flow of hockey.
Cal Ritchie emerged as a dynamic playmaker, particularly on the powerplay. His impressive puck handling and ability to find seams was on full display throughout the weekend. After a quiet first period in Game 1, Ritchie’s creativity sparked the Avalanche's offense, highlighted by his setup for Stienburg’s one-timer against the Sharks in Game 3 for their first lead of the tournament. Turning a slow first period from the opener into a multi-point weekend demonstrated his maturity, effective in-game adjustments, and calm under pressure.
Off the ice, Ritchie’s development has been just as impressive. He added 17 pounds over the summer - a significant step in his offseason training regimen. He attributed this improvement to focused workouts and a disciplined approach to nutrition, including changes to his supplement intake.
Ritchie also spoke about the influence of Avalanche stars like Nathan MacKinnon on his approach to conditioning. Being around elite players like MacKinnon, and participating in training sessions with NHL players such as Logan O'Connor and Devon Toews at DU Pro Camp and Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby up in Vail, gave Ritchie a glimpse of what it takes to reach the next level.
“Everyone wants to be like him,” Ritchie said of MacKinnon. “Whatever I see he does, I try to implement that myself.”
Ritchie credited his work with veteran Andrew Cogliano, who provided guidance throughout the summer. The mentorship from seasoned professionals has not only bolstered Ritchie's physical development but also prepared him mentally for the challenges of training camp.
“I was impressed with him,” said Coach Aaron Schneekloth. “I thought he was outstanding on the powerplay… His vision on the ice is very high. You're going to see his confidence grow…
He’s a guy, when he’s got the puck on his stick, he can make some plays happen. He’s big and long and when he gets those feet going, he’s a threat out there.”
Ritchie’s summer work, combined with his tournament performance, laid a strong foundation for what’s to come. He’ll head into training camp with high expectations, eager to prove that his offseason gains translate to NHL-level play.
Sean Behrens was a consistent defensive standout in the two games that he played. His ability to read the game, combined with great stick work, kept opponents to the perimeter and initiated offensive breakouts. Notably, Behrens also delivered a big hit on San Jose’s 6’2” Quentin Musty, despite the size difference, showcasing his physicality in Game 3.
“He's such a smart player and he's a super competitive player,” said Director of Player Development Brian Willsie. “In college, the bigger the game, the better he played. You can have all the player development you want, you can't teach someone to be a good, big game player. He just has that in him, so that will carry him.”
His powerplay contributions were pivotal. He walked the blueline in search of the perfect play and created great opportunities in Game 1. In Game 3, he carried the puck from behind his goal line to gain clean entry on the powerplay, evading a defender along the way, and helped to establish the zone ahead of Stienburg’s goal.
Ivan Ivan brought relentless energy and fearlessness, excelling in puck retrievals and drawing penalties because he was hard for opponents to contain. His constant motor and willingness to hunt pucks and play below the goal line earned him comparisons to Artturi Lehkonen. Ivan showed confidence and swagger, taking on defenders with bold moves that didn’t always work, but he dared to try again and again.
Ivan also played a critical role on the penalty kill, helping Colorado fend off some dangerous opportunities. He found success on PP2 and helped the unit to convert with an o-zone faceoff win in Game 2.
“His standard is high. Our expectation of him is high. He had a lot of growth last year, but the work's not done,” Schneekloth explained. “He's got to continue to go into the hard areas, being strong in front of the net… We know he's got some explosive skating, and he's strong on his feet, coming out of the corners.”
Ivan noted his improved strength this summer which showed in the tournament, “I was really working to get stronger. So some battles in the game, [I gained] confidence that I'm stronger, some guys falling off me. That always makes me happy that I got stronger. The ambition is big - the NHL is my dream.”
Brian Willsie corroborated this too, “Coming over into this rookie tournament, he filled out physically. He looks so much more mature on the ice. He's a player that’s relied upon heavily in the center ice position in this tournament for this young team, as a leader already, which happened in a hurry.
We’re all pretty excited about him next week with the NHL camp, just what he could do there. Last year he earned himself a second exhibition game just by the way he played in camp, the first game, and then into the second game, so hopefully he can carry that confidence on.”
Oskar Olausson demonstrated his refined puck skills, finishing off a key scoring chance with a strong wrist shot in Game 1. He controlled and protected the puck from opponents in situations his peers failed to do so in. Olausson's chemistry with Ritchie and Behrens, particularly on the powerplay, helped drive Colorado’s offense. After missing last year’s showcase due to injury, he looked strong and healthy.
“You can tell he put the work in this offseason,” said Schneekloth. “He looks big, he looks strong, he looks quick. It doesn't look like he's tentative out on the ice… Thought he went out to his points hard and made an emphasis on finishing his checks and getting himself comfortable in some physical situations. You can see he wants to make an impact.”
In a difficult Game 3 against San Jose, even the refined skill of Olausson wasn’t enough to make a dent in the scoresheet. You really wanted to see his game pop after gaining some momentum in Game 1. His tournament performance overall left me wanting, but faith is not lost… It just leaves a bigger opportunity for Olausson to show out in camp.
Honorary Mentions
Matt Stienburg balanced physicality with offensive contributions, scoring against the Sharks, leading off the rush, and completing all his checks. Stienburg dropped the gloves to stand up for himself in Game 2, but stayed out of the extracurriculars away from the puck in Game 3. His disciplined toughness and ability to lead the charge offensively were highlights of his weekend.
Jason Polin was a consistent offensive threat, scoring twice over the weekend, including a crucial powerplay goal against Anaheim. He hit the crossbar in Game 2 and worked hard to create offense, often taking matters into his own hands with strong transition play. Polin handled himself with polish and stood out as a clear cut leader for the group.
Wearing contact well, Nikita Prishchepov was tough to knock off his skates and demonstrated strength. He won key faceoffs and had two good scoring chances against the Sharks, including a wrister that was gloved down in the third period. Some of his tools are a bit raw, but he has a solid foundation.
Max Curran showed flashes of offensive potential, including a late powerplay goal against Anaheim. However, at times he was targeted by the Sharks' forecheckers, which put him under pressure and revealed some puck-protection vulnerabilities.
Ondrej Pavel’s hit against San Jose led to a key transition up ice in Game 3 and he played with grit throughout the weekend. While his puck-handling had some limitations at times, Pavel excelled on the penalty kill and consistently brought a hardworking, physical presence to his game.
The Avalanche’s rookie showcase offered a glimpse of future potential, with some players showing their readiness for more responsibility. These prospects will look to build on their performances and make their case for spots on the NHL roster. Training camp opens on September 19th.
