By Corey Masisak
Copyright denverpost
The leaves are changing colors, which means it is time for what many sports fans consider the best time of the year.
All of the major sports are about to be in full swing. That’s great news for fans, but for one day, a bit of an inconvenience for the Colorado Avalanche equipment staff.
The Avs are going to play two on Sunday, but not exactly in the way Ernie Banks intended. Colorado and the Utah Mammoth will play a split-squad doubleheader — one game at Magness Arena on the University of Denver campus in the afternoon, one at Ball Arena downtown in the evening.
It means everyone in the organization must divide and conquer. Coaches, medical personnel, equipment staff — everyone had to come up with a plan to handle two games in the same city but at two different arenas.
Normally, the Avs’ equipment staff would have extra hands on deck. A couple of guys who work for the Colorado Rockies often come help them on gamedays.
Just one problem with that …
“It’s the Rockies’ last home game of the season that day, so we’re a little thin,” Avs head equipment manager Don White said. “But it’ll be good.”
Colorado’s equipment guys — White leads a team that includes Bryce Blinkhorn, Brad Lewkow and Travis Ward — do have a few things working for them. Everyone who works for the Colorado Eagles is still around because AHL camps haven’t opened yet, so Skylar Garver and Brayden Deweese will work with Blinkhorn for the DU game, while White and Ward will handle Colorado’s side of things at Ball (Lewkow is going to help Utah’s crew at both sites).
There also aren’t going to be any morning skates on Sunday, which would make for an even longer day. And while the game at Magness will be a bit of a curveball for other parts of the organization, including most of the players, it’s less of one for White’s team.
“Normally, we would all practice at Ball (the morning of) a preseason game,” White said. “Just half the team would be in the visiting room, and then we have to get those guys out of there quick, because the other team comes in. This one’s going to be a little different, because the day before, we all practice here (at Family Sports Center), and then at like 3:30 p.m., we get to move into DU. And right after practice here, the other group gets to move into Ball.
“We’re pretty familiar with DU. Bryce and I are pretty good buddies with Nick Meldrum, Denver’s equipment manager. We’ve been down there a couple times. We have guys skate there over the summer, so we have stopped by randomly, and we’re pretty familiar with the place. Everybody else won’t be, but we’ll be all right.”
Colorado head coach Jared Bednar will coach in the game at DU, along with new assistant Dave Hakstol and Eagles assistant Tim Branham. Avs assistant Nolan Pratt will lead the coaching staff in the nightcap downtown, along with Eagles head coach Mark Letestu and his other assistant, Tim Army.
Bednar said he’s eager to get a game in behind the bench with Hakstol, who is going to be in charge of the Avalanche’s power play this season. We don’t know how the rosters are going to split exactly, but Bednar did let it slip that captain Gabe Landeskog will be part of the team at Magness. It seems like a pretty smart bet that Pioneers alum Sean Behrens will be playing in that game, as well.
“I don’t envy them,” Avs goalie Scott Wedgewood said of White and his crew. “It’s a lot of late nights during the year. They’re definitely unsung heroes every season. We land and go right to the hotel. We wake up and everything is ready at the rink for us. It’s not a glamorous job, but they are so respected by us around the room.
“They’ll find a way to get it all done, I’m sure.”
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