Colorado to honour Forsberg by retiring shirt
The Colorado Avalanche, the final career port of call for Swedish hockey legend Peter Forsberg, are to honour their former star by making him only the fourth player to have their number retired.
The club announced on Thursday that Forsberg, who served the Avalanche in several periods between 1995 until his retirement from the game in 2011, will be honoured at the opening match of the 2011/2012 NHL season against Detroit on October 8th.
Forsberg, known as "Foppa" to Swedish hockey fans, wore the number 21 jersey with distinction at the Denver-based club, playing over 650 times despite suffering a slew of injuries in the latter years of his career.
Peter Forsberg's jersey will lifted to the rafters of their arena in a pre-game ceremony similar to those for the retirement of jersey numbers 19 for Joe Sakic, 77 for Ray Bourque and 33 for goaltender Patrick Roy.
The burly Swede, a former NHL Most Valuable Player, made a brief comeback with the Avalanche last season but lasted only two games because of a nagging foot
injury that cut short his career.
With Forsberg playing a major role, the Avalanche won Stanley Cup titles in
1996 and 2001. In 708 career NHL games, he scored 249 goals and set up 636
others.
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The club announced on Thursday that Forsberg, who served the Avalanche in several periods between 1995 until his retirement from the game in 2011, will be honoured at the opening match of the 2011/2012 NHL season against Detroit on October 8th.
Forsberg, known as "Foppa" to Swedish hockey fans, wore the number 21 jersey with distinction at the Denver-based club, playing over 650 times despite suffering a slew of injuries in the latter years of his career.
Peter Forsberg's jersey will lifted to the rafters of their arena in a pre-game ceremony similar to those for the retirement of jersey numbers 19 for Joe Sakic, 77 for Ray Bourque and 33 for goaltender Patrick Roy.
The burly Swede, a former NHL Most Valuable Player, made a brief comeback with the Avalanche last season but lasted only two games because of a nagging foot
injury that cut short his career.
With Forsberg playing a major role, the Avalanche won Stanley Cup titles in
1996 and 2001. In 708 career NHL games, he scored 249 goals and set up 636
others.
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