The Avs- My Reason for Not Being a Lazy Slob

by Manik
(Seattle, Washington)

My favorite Denver sports team is incontestably the Colorado Avalanche. I moved to Colorado in first grade as an academic (as far as elementary schoolers go I guess), but during my elementary school career, something changed- The Quebec Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche!

My best friend loved hockey, and after Colorado got a sports team he made me go to a game with him and his family. Instantly, I fell in love with the skill and reflexes necessary to be a goalie. Only later would I learn that I was watching the winningest goaltender in the history of the sport (Patrick Roy).

Regardless, he inspired me to get into hockey, and since that game, I played varsity goalie on the ice in high school and university. I really do owe it all to Patrick Roy, whose style and even quirks are what I aimed to mimic as a stood between the posts at each game. Because of the Avalanche I'm still in shape and I am still loyal to hockey, which I feel lost a lot of steam after the strike. Thanks, Avs!