Sportsnet’s Eric Engels shared that the Colorado Avalanche requested to wear Quebec Nordiques jerseys in their game against the Montreal Canadiens on January 29th, a request that was approved. Since the Avalanche will don the Nordiques jerseys, the Canadiens will switch to their red jerseys for the match.
To mark the franchise’s 30th anniversary, the Avalanche are honoring their roots by wearing the Quebec Nordiques jerseys for seven games this season, including an additional game against their “rival,” the Montreal Canadiens. Besides these, the team will also wear the retro jerseys in matchups against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, and Las Vegas Golden Knights.
The Colorado Avalanche officially launched this special third jersey to celebrate the Quebec Nordiques’ 30th anniversary. So far this season, when wearing the Nordiques jerseys, the Avalanche hold a record of 1-1: they lost 5-4 in a shootout against the Carolina Hurricanes but secured a solid 7-2 win over the Canadiens.
Additionally, Canadiens CEO Jeff Molson expressed his support for the Avalanche’s desire to make this jersey matchup happen. A memorable moment between these teams is the infamous “Good Friday Massacre” during the 1984 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where a game ended in a massive brawl between the Nordiques and Canadiens, resulting in 11 players being ejected and 252 penalty minutes given.
Although such a fight is unlikely to repeat, it’s positive to see the NHL allowing the Avalanche to don their nostalgic jerseys, encouraging similar retro jersey celebrations across other teams in the future.
Fan Take: This throwback homage bridges hockey’s rich history with today’s game, igniting nostalgia and passion among fans. It also paves the way for more teams to honor their legacy, deepening connections between players, fans, and the storied past of the sport.
