TAMPA, Fla. — One whiff of the visitors’ dressing room at the St. Pete Times Forum on Thursday morning was all Pierre Guite needed to transport him back in time.
“It doesn’t change, I see,” Guite said. “It brings back memories.”
Guite was one of many fathers of Avalanche players who milled about the room and who will accompany the team through Sunday. As they have done occasionally over the years, the Avs are having “Fathers Week” in Florida. Guite, who played in the old World Hockey Association with the Edmonton Oilers in the 1970s, will room with his son, Ben, and bond with other proud Avs fathers.
“It’s a great thing the Avalanche has done, allowing us this opportunity,” said Pierre Guite, who lives in Florida but said he doesn’t get to Tampa much. “A couple of years ago, I was going to join Ben with the team when they did it (in San Jose, Calif.), but he got sent to the minors right beforehand.”
Ben Guite played his first game since Nov. 9, against the Lightning, coming back from a rib injury.
“I feel like I’ve been in the bullpen warming up for five weeks,” he said. “I’m just glad to be back.”
The Avs will have today off, and many of the fathers and sons will play golf.
Footnotes.
Despite Andrew Raycroft’s outstanding showing, coach Tony Granato says Peter Budaj is starting Sunday vs. Florida. Defenseman Ruslan Salei was back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch in Tuesday’s game at Philadelphia. . . . Paul Stastny’s first-period goal extended his scoring streak to three games. . . . Entering the game, Colorado was 22-7-0 in its previous 29 contests against Eastern Conference opponents. . . . Of the Avalanche’s first 31 games, 19 were decided by one goal (61 percent), tied for second-most in the league. Detroit (20) was the leader.
Adrian Dater, The Denver Post
