I read this article about Peter Budaj and fell in love with him all over.

Budaj had a Canadiens link long before he arrived here. In Colorado, on his first day in his first Avalanche training camp, he mustered the courage to ask Avalanche netminder, Habs icon and boyhood idol Patrick Roy, to autograph his hockey cards. He later shared duties for three seasons with former Canadien José Theodore and would gain the insight, upon signing in Montreal, with departed Hab and fellow Slovakian Jaroslav Halak.

For now, Budaj will remain in Denver, enjoying time with his 2-year-old son, Peter Jr.

"He has a little net and hockey stick and he likes to hit balls and little pucks. He’s playing sports all the time," Budaj said of his boy. "I thank God that he’s healthy and can be as active as he is."

An Avalanche prospect had a good game recently.

Lipon — the reigning WHL player of the week on a six game point streak — connected twice on separate man advantages in the second period along with Aspen Sterzer, while Colin Smith, a 2012 draft choice of the Colorado Avalanche, connected in the first to add to a 4-2 lead after two frames.

Smith added to the pile in the third, scoring as Virtanen wore the goat’s horns for a holding penalty.