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Photo by: Sophie Hamill/Denver Athletics
DU Hockey Alums Faces Former Avs in Back To Hockey Alumni Faceoff
8/23/2026 10:24:00 PM | Ice Hockey
Pioneers hosted the second annual event at Magness Arena
DENVER – The Denver Pioneers hockey alumni returned to Magness Arena on Sunday night against the star-studded group of former Colorado Avalanche players in the Back to Hockey Alumni Faceoff. Denver made it a two-goal game in the second period, but the Avalanche pulled away to a 9-3 win in the second annual event.
Longtime NHLer Tyler Bozak as well as JP Testwuide and Kelly Hollingshead scored in the charity game for the Pioneers. Gabe Levin, Kyle Ostrow and Quentin Shore each had an assist, while goaltenders Danny King and Evan Cowley split duties in net.
King started the game and stopped a penalty shot from Dan Hinote at 12:15 in the first period. Cowley concluded the contest, denying additional penalty shots from Hockey Hall of Famer Peter Forsberg and Avs and NHL alum Tyson Barrie. During this matchup, penalties were given as penalty shots instead of power plays.
The Colorado Avalanche alumni jumped out with an early lead as Peter Mueller tallied the first goal of the competition just two minutes in. Testwuide tied the contest for Denver 2:20 later, but the Avs added three more goals in the frame to lead 4-1 at the first intermission.
Denver outscored the Avs 2-1 in the second, but the Avalanche finished the matchup in the third period with four more goals to take the win.
Cody McLeod had two goals to earn first star of the game honors, while Milan Hejduk had three points with two markers and an assist. Forsberg contributed an assist while fellow Hockey Hall of Fame member Joe Sakic scored and recorded an assist. Darren Helm, Steven Reinprecht and Kyle Quincey also found the back of the net for the Avs alums.
Ryan Miller, an 18-year NHL veteran and Olympic silver medalist with Team USA started in goal for the Avs, while Julian Fernandez finished the contest.
The game featured four players that have suited up for both the Pios and Avs in their career, and a trade occurred halfway into the second period involving Paul Stastny and Mark Rycroft. Stastny started the game for the Pioneers before being swapped Rycroft. Aaron MacKenzie and Joe Colborne (coach on the bench) also played on both squads during their careers.
The Back to Hockey Alumni Game is a charity event benefiting the Colorado Avalanche Alumni Association's mission of giving back to youth hockey, scholarships and mental health programs in the state of Colorado. The Denver alumni won 8-7 in a shootout in last year's inaugural competition at Magness Arena.
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
ALUMNI GAME SCORING SUMMARY
First Period
2:00 AVS (0-1) – Peter Mueller (Steven Reinprecht and Mark Rycroft)
4:25 PIOS (1-1) – JP Testwuide (Gabe Levin and Kyle Ostrow)
5:15 AVS (1-2) – Cody McLeod (Aaron MacKenzie and Andrew Cogliano)
10:23 AVS (1-3) – Darren Helm (Yan Stastny and Peter Mueller)
7:47 AVS (1-3) – Penalty shot by Dan Hinote, save by DU Danny King
14:30 AVS (1-4) – Joe Sakic (Aaron McKenzie and Milan Hejduk)
Second Period
6:09 PIOS (2-4) – Tyler Bozak (unassisted)
7:10 PIOS (3-4) – Kelly Hollingshead (Quentin Shore)
8:05 AVS (3-5) – Milan Hejduk (unassisted)
18:33 PIOS (3-5) – Penalty shot by Tyler Bozak, save by Julien Hernandez
Third Period
8:15 AVS (3-6) – Milan Hejduk (Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic)
13:35 AVS (3-7) – Cody McLeod (Darren Helm)
16:47 AVS (3-7) – Penalty shot by Peter Forsberg, save by Evan Cowley
18:50 AVS (3-7) – Penalty shot by Tyson Barrie, save by Evan Cowley
19:40 AVS (3-8) – Steven Reinprecht (unassisted)
19:59 AVS (3-9) – Kyle Quincey (Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic)
TICKETS: Five-game mini plans and group tickets for the DU hockey's championship-defense campaign in 2026-27 are on sale now. Click here for more information.
Longtime NHLer Tyler Bozak as well as JP Testwuide and Kelly Hollingshead scored in the charity game for the Pioneers. Gabe Levin, Kyle Ostrow and Quentin Shore each had an assist, while goaltenders Danny King and Evan Cowley split duties in net.
King started the game and stopped a penalty shot from Dan Hinote at 12:15 in the first period. Cowley concluded the contest, denying additional penalty shots from Hockey Hall of Famer Peter Forsberg and Avs and NHL alum Tyson Barrie. During this matchup, penalties were given as penalty shots instead of power plays.
The Colorado Avalanche alumni jumped out with an early lead as Peter Mueller tallied the first goal of the competition just two minutes in. Testwuide tied the contest for Denver 2:20 later, but the Avs added three more goals in the frame to lead 4-1 at the first intermission.
Denver outscored the Avs 2-1 in the second, but the Avalanche finished the matchup in the third period with four more goals to take the win.
Cody McLeod had two goals to earn first star of the game honors, while Milan Hejduk had three points with two markers and an assist. Forsberg contributed an assist while fellow Hockey Hall of Fame member Joe Sakic scored and recorded an assist. Darren Helm, Steven Reinprecht and Kyle Quincey also found the back of the net for the Avs alums.
Ryan Miller, an 18-year NHL veteran and Olympic silver medalist with Team USA started in goal for the Avs, while Julian Fernandez finished the contest.
The game featured four players that have suited up for both the Pios and Avs in their career, and a trade occurred halfway into the second period involving Paul Stastny and Mark Rycroft. Stastny started the game for the Pioneers before being swapped Rycroft. Aaron MacKenzie and Joe Colborne (coach on the bench) also played on both squads during their careers.
The Back to Hockey Alumni Game is a charity event benefiting the Colorado Avalanche Alumni Association's mission of giving back to youth hockey, scholarships and mental health programs in the state of Colorado. The Denver alumni won 8-7 in a shootout in last year's inaugural competition at Magness Arena.
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
- Cody McLeod, Avalanche
- Milan Hejduk, Avalanche
- Ryan Miller, Avalanche
ALUMNI GAME SCORING SUMMARY
First Period
2:00 AVS (0-1) – Peter Mueller (Steven Reinprecht and Mark Rycroft)
4:25 PIOS (1-1) – JP Testwuide (Gabe Levin and Kyle Ostrow)
5:15 AVS (1-2) – Cody McLeod (Aaron MacKenzie and Andrew Cogliano)
10:23 AVS (1-3) – Darren Helm (Yan Stastny and Peter Mueller)
7:47 AVS (1-3) – Penalty shot by Dan Hinote, save by DU Danny King
14:30 AVS (1-4) – Joe Sakic (Aaron McKenzie and Milan Hejduk)
Second Period
6:09 PIOS (2-4) – Tyler Bozak (unassisted)
7:10 PIOS (3-4) – Kelly Hollingshead (Quentin Shore)
8:05 AVS (3-5) – Milan Hejduk (unassisted)
18:33 PIOS (3-5) – Penalty shot by Tyler Bozak, save by Julien Hernandez
Third Period
8:15 AVS (3-6) – Milan Hejduk (Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic)
13:35 AVS (3-7) – Cody McLeod (Darren Helm)
16:47 AVS (3-7) – Penalty shot by Peter Forsberg, save by Evan Cowley
18:50 AVS (3-7) – Penalty shot by Tyson Barrie, save by Evan Cowley
19:40 AVS (3-8) – Steven Reinprecht (unassisted)
19:59 AVS (3-9) – Kyle Quincey (Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic)
TICKETS: Five-game mini plans and group tickets for the DU hockey's championship-defense campaign in 2026-27 are on sale now. Click here for more information.
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Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Hockey on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Hockey on X
Follow @DenverPioneers and @DU_Hockey on Instagram
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