Avalanche By The Numbers: #1
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Aug 4, 2009 1:46 PM MDT
in Avalanche By The Numbers
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In an effort to fill the remaining 58 days before the season starts, I thought it might be fun to take a look at the different jersey numbers worn by the Avs over the years. I've always been fascinated by jersey numbers, and this exercise will probably be more whimsical than serious study.
According to the tremendous resource at AvalancheDB, 65 different numbers have been worn by the Avalanche, from #1 (see below) to the #97 worn by Per Ledin last season. We'll talk a bit about the most (and least popular) numbers as we go. For now, I'd like to jump right into...
#1
3 players have worn numero uno for the Avalanche, tying it for 25th on the popularity list. Not surprisingly, all 3 were goalies. The number 1 has been on the ice for 272 regular season games and 15 playoff games.
1996-1999: Craig Billington was the first to don the #1. He was signed by the Florida Panthers in September of 1996, but apparently was behind John Vanbiesbrouk and Mark Fitzpatrick on the depth chart and was claimed by the Avalanche in the old waiver draft that took place later that month. Billington played in 67 regular season games with the Avs and 3 playoff games. He was with the club for 3 years, backing up a certain Patrick Roy. Over those 67 games, Billington had an 30-23-7 record with a 2.61 GAA and a .910 Save Percentage.,
Billington broke in with the New Jersey Devils in 1985-1986. He had worn #1 with his junior club - the Bellville Bulls - but that was taken at the time by former Colorado Rockies' Chico Resch, so Billington wore #33. Resch was traded away late in the season, but, perhaps in deference to the veteran, did no switch to #1 the following year. He didn't stick with 33 either, but went with #31. The next year, Sean Burke came up with the Devils and snagged #1. Biller wouldn't be able to take his preferred number until the 1992 season when Burke left for Hartford. From that point on, Billington had #1 for the rest of his career, from the rest of his time in New Jersey, to stints with Ottawa, Boston, the Avs and, finally, the Capitals.
via www.fansedge.com
2000-2006: In June of 2000, the Avalanche traded Billington's replacement, Marc Denis, to the Columbus Blue Jackets creating an opportunity for the next #1 - David Aebischer. With 174 regular season and 13 playoff appearances, Aebischer is the guy who's worn the #1 the most. He's also the best. In 5 seasons with the Avalanche, Abby posted an 89-58-14 record with a 2.35 GAA and a 915 save percentage. In the spring of 2006, Aebischer was traded to the Montreal Canadians for Jose Theodore. With #1 retired in Montreal (Jaques Plante), Aebischer donned #30 for the Habs. He got his old #1 back when he signed with the Coyotes the following fall, but he only got to wear if in one game before he was jetisoned so Switzerland. Once again, he found his #1 unavailable (#1 is retired on HC Logano is retired for some fella name Alfio Molina). So, Abby is wearing #29. He's also worn #40 for the Swiss National team.
2008-2009: The most recent player to wear #1 is, of course, Andrew Raycroft. Razor's stay in Colorado was mercifully short - just 31 games, over which Raycroft post a 12-16-0 record with a GAA of π and a .892 Save Percentage.
To date, Raycroft has only worn #1 in the NHL (perhaps because it's the easiest number to count to without focusing too hard?). That will be changing this fall, as Roberto Luongo already has dibs on that one. Do you think it's possible to fit #420 on a jersey?
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"just 31 games"
31 heartattacks is a hell of a stint to me.
by Tommelot on Aug 4, 2009 1:59 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
I love that Rayzor’s GAA is Pi (and that the Greek character showed up in the article above). Perhaps this is because “Dude, I totally have the munchies and would love some pie, man!”
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche - "Hey Brother, can you spare a Left Winger?"
by Hopfenkopf on Aug 4, 2009 2:28 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
it works on so many levels
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Aug 4, 2009 2:37 PM MDT up reply actions
Maybe Razor think’s he’s 11.
I'm normally not a praying man, but if you're up there, please save me Superman---the official slogan of the 2009'-10' Colorado Avalanche. (and Homer Simpson).
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Aug 4, 2009 2:57 PM MDT reply actions
Not me…one great year behind an All-Star defense, and one decent half year after that. Since then he stunk it up for Montreal and couldn’t even make it as a back-up in Phoenix (pre-Bryzgalov)…gave up 5 goals in his first AHL period after being demoted by Phoenix…then out of the NHL. I would call that a grand slide
He wasn’t HORRIBLE, his Swiss fan club was cool, and I personally loved yelling “Abby!” when he made a good save. Also, who remembers the diving save across the crease on Brett Hull?? That was awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar1Bc8sDqzY
forgot there was 2 of them…
Loved that one.
But my personal fave… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7h3Q2ADO2w&NR=1
by Goalie By Commitee on Aug 4, 2009 7:16 PM MDT up reply actions
Wow,
good thing that we got ourselves an excellent head coach with a special touch for nurturing goalies in order to maximize Abby’s talent and development!
Ooops.
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche - "Hey Brother, can you spare a Left Winger?"
Roundtable?
In an effort to fill the remaining 58 days before the season starts
Are you guys doing a roundtable this year?
so rankings?
1. Billington
2. Aebischer
3 Denis
4. Kid wearing Raycoft jersey
5. actuall Raycroft
I'm normally not a praying man, but if you're up there, please save me Superman---the official slogan of the 2009'-10' Colorado Avalanche. (and Homer Simpson).
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Aug 4, 2009 4:53 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
but somewhere
the owner of a head shop on Colfax weeps.
Our 2009-2010 Avs: The towel has been thrown into the rink.
by Bob in Boulder on Aug 4, 2009 5:04 PM MDT up reply actions
I saw an Aebischer jersey
in the Aurora Mall three days ago. I asked the cat workin there how long it had been there, and he said before he started. Figures.
I thought you knew that algebra was all razzamatazz. A Globetrotter always saves the good algebra for the final minutes.
Did you buy it, I totally would have
The Savage has spoken. Let it be done
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost
As an interesting (at least to me) aside
When I picked my first # for organized hockey, I was told I had to get a “Goalie number”, since I was, in fact, playing goal. I picked my number for various reasons (which I’ll explain when DDC get’s to it), but whilst doing the research I discovered that back in the olden days, the clubs would have 30 guys to camp before the season, and most didn’t get to pick numbers, they were just given numbers. The starting netmider got #1 and then the skaters were given numbers. Consequently, the backup goalie usually got #30 or #31 (if they had an extra skater up for a look or due to injury). Then, as goalies got brought onto the team, they historically got numbers after #31, such as Roy’s #33. It wasn’t until Gretzky asked for 99 that asking for specific numbers or odd numbers became en vogue (or at least that’s the popular consensus). Theo’s 60 was a personal thing too, if I remember.
2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Dry Humping Mediocrity
I heard that as well, Thats partly why Tretiak wore 20. They only had 18 players on a team when he started, therefore the goalies wore 1 and 20. If I remember correctly Roy wore 33 for the Habs because 3’s his lucky number and someone had that and 30 was retired so he asked for 33. I wear #1 because thats the jersey they decided goalies would have, for obvious reasons I guess, I have now made the #1 stand for the top player on the Redhawks.
The Savage has spoken. Let it be done
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost
I thought you were the only player on your team as everyone else merely occupied time, space, and skates whilst directing opposing forwards to prime scoring areas (also known as “the rink” on your team)?
2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Dry Humping Mediocrity
Theo wears #60
to commemorate the number of inconsistent minutes he plays in a game. Or the number of minutes he plays in a game where it is possible a beach ball and/or whale will make it past him and into the net he is supposed to be protecting.
Get rid of the loser point
08-09 Avs- can we decline the penalty?
It's also the model number of his Pimp Cane.
“Hello fine sir, one model 60 pimp cane, if you will.”
As far as I know, my computer has never had an undetected error.
by Pinchy The Lobster on Aug 6, 2009 6:56 PM MDT up reply actions
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