DENVER -- Bowen Byram and Alex Newhook were toddlers. Cale Makar was 3. Nathan MacKinnon was 6.
That is how long it has been since the Colorado Avalanche last hung a Stanley Cup banner in Denver. Wednesday brought an end to that drought, with the team raising the third championship banner in franchise history at Ball Arena.
Fans rose to their feet when Bernie, the Avalanche's mascot, skated around the ice while waving a gigantic "Hockey is Back" flag like he has many times over the years.