Lowell, Mass., is the birthplace of beatnik author Jack Kerouac, creating an unfortunate literary reference for Avalanche prospects sent to that city.
“On the road” to Lowell are rookies Brad Richardson, Ryan Steeves and Johnny Boychuk, after the Avs demoted them Thursday to the Lowell Lock Monsters of the American Hockey League.
The cuts reduced the Avalanche training camp roster to 29 players. The team must cut a minimum of six more players before opening night, Oct. 5 in Edmonton, Alberta.
Richardson, 20, the third-leading scorer in the Ontario Hockey League last season with Owen Sound, will see his first experience in minor-pro hockey with Lowell. He was a longshot to make the Avs.
Boychuk, a 21-year-old defenseman, had little opportunity to stick this season with an Avs club that has eight experienced defensemen on the roster.
Kolesnik impresses
Goalie Vitaly Kolesnik had a good showing in goal for the Avs in Wednesday’s preseason game at Detroit.
The rookie from Kazakhstan stopped 21-of-22 shots, including several top-quality chances. Kolesnik speaks little English and hasn’t played in North America before this training camp, so he remains the dark horse in the battle for the backup goalie job, while competing with Peter Budaj.
“We like how competitive he is,” Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville said of Kolesnik, 26, who was signed as a free agent. “He’s one of those guys that might have been under the radar for a number of years. He’s getting more comfortable with the language and with his new equipment.
“Getting thrown in here is probably the most difficult task there is, and he handled it very well.”
Shootout woes
The Avs were blanked in five shootout opportunities after the exhibition with Detroit. The Red Wings won the game in overtime, then won the exhibition shootout Brendan Shanahan’s goal against David Aebischer.
Vegas bound
The Avs will travel to Las Vegas today in preparation for Saturday’s exhibition against the Los Angeles Kings at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Some of the veterans who did not play in Detroit, including Joe Sakic, Alex Tanguay and Rob Blake, are expected to play against the Kings.
Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-820-5454 or adater@denverpost.com.
