The game of hockey, like all sports, is filled with heroes. Most of the time, it is the superstars who have a reputation for coming up clutch. However, we are here to talk about the heroic performances that seem to come from nowhere. An unlikely hero can step up and chip in with a massive, Stanley Cup Playoff series-clinching goal, or maybe it is a season-long performance, the likes of which will never be seen again. These unlikely heroes become a part of hockey history. Today, we bring you our Last Word On Hockey summer series, as we look at the Colorado Avalanche Unlikely Heroes.
Colorado Avalanche Unlikely Heroes
The Criteria
Some wonder what makes an unlikely hero. It can be a player who comes with a massive improvement out of nowhere. An unlikely hero can step up and chip in with a massive goal or a goaltender shutout that wasn’t expected. It can also be a player who steps up and has a season to remember. An unlikely hero can be a player who’s a youngster who gives a breakthrough performance. It can also be a star player who gives one last flash of greatness.
Uwe Krupp
Background
(Credit Image: © Rick Giase/ZUMA Press)
One thing about Colorado is that they’ve got plenty of big goals from primetime players. In The Athletic’s look at most unlikely overtime goalscorers, the Avs tend to get their goals from star players. Joe Sakic has eight OT winners in franchise history. (This includes Quebec Nordiques, which we won’t reference in this piece in a similar rule that we did with the Carolina Hurricanes when it came to the Hartford Whalers.) However, there are some Colorado Avalanche unlikely heroes to talk about.
The one that jumps out to most is that of German defenceman, Uwe Krupp. He was one of the original Avalanche players that moved from Quebec City, Quebec to Denver, Colorado. Krupp only appeared in six games and logged three assists as he dealt with injuries that season. However, the former All-Star with the Buffalo Sabres would make a franchise-altering impact in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Moment
Colorado had finally taken off after acquiring former Montreal Canadiens goalie Patrick Roy. The Avalanche came out of the Western Conference after laying the groundwork for a hostile rivalry with the Detroit Red Wings. However, the Avalanche would be playing the upstart Florida Panthers in the Cup Final. Many thought the Pittsburgh Penguins or the Philadelphia Flyers would represent the Eastern Conference. However, the Cats rode great goaltending and timely goals to reach its first Final.
Despite this, Colorado imposed its will in the series and raced out to a 3-0 series lead. The Avalanche were looking to complete the four-game sweep at the Miami Arena. However, the Panthers would not go away without a fight. The game went into third overtime without a goal, but Krupp would score the most important tally of his career.
The German fired up a big slap shot from the right point, which made its way through the maze of players and beat Panthers goalie John Vanbiesbrouck to end the series. It was the first time a team located in Denver won a major professional sports championship.
Aftermath
Krupp would be part of the Red Wings team that won the Stanley Cup in 2022. However, he did not play in enough games to have his named engraved on the cup for a second time. The Cologne, West Germany native would finish his career with 729 career NHL games.
Krupp is now a coach with EV Landshut in the German DEL2. He did have a stint running HC Lugano in the Swiss National League before that.
Marek Svatos
Background
Our next person in our Colorado Avalanche unlikely heroes has been featured in a summer series before. Marek Svatos was featured in our look at one hit wonders in Colorado franchise history. The Slovakian forward was a seventh-round pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. However, he managed to work his way onto the club in 2003-04.
It wouldn’t be until the next season that Svatos would really have his breakout campaign. Svatos would be a solid player in the WHL in Kootenay and Hershey in the AHL. However, he would burst onto the scene with the Avs.
The Moment
The Kosice, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia) native had a tremendous rookie season with 32 goals in 61 games. His strong play got him fifth place in the Calder Trophy voting for rookie of the year.
His play would get him noticed and he would be part of the Slovakian national team at the 2006 Winter Olympics. He would not record a point in six games, but the Slovaks finished fifth at the Torino Games.
Aftermath
Unfortunately, injuries would end Svatos’ career prematurely. He would suffer groin and ACL injuries in the 2005-06 and 2007-08 seasons, respectively. A hand injury would derail his 2008-09 season and he would never reclaim his goalscoring form.
Svatos would finish his career in Europe and help his hometown club of HC Košice win the Slovakian Extraliga championship. Sadly, Svatos would pass away on November 5, 2016, in Colorado. However, he would still be remembered as one of the Colorado Avalanche unlikely heroes.
Honourable Mention
We have a couple of other names to mention in this look at the Colorado Avalanche unlikely heroes. Miles Wood is a recent entry in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Dallas Stars with his winner.
We can also add Brent Kulak’s recent goal against the Minnesota Wild that would clinch the Av’s spot in the Western Conference Final. A case for Parker Kelly can also be made on this list.
This wraps up our list of the Colorado Avalanche unlikely heroes. Stick around for more entries in the series.
Main photo by: RVR Photos-Imagn Images
