The Avalanche completed training camp Monday in entertaining fashion. In capping three days of nine combined scrimmages at South Suburban Family Sports Center, the final 45-minute session was the undoubtedly the closest thing to a real game.
“Overall, it was a real productive camp and looking at the game’s today, I thought the intensity was real good, especially considering the fact we (were going) on three days in a row, three-hour days,” said Avs coach Joe Sacco. “That’s a grind.
“We talked about competitiveness and competition out there and you could really see guys laying it on the line out there, especially in that last game.”
The 50 players in camp were split among three teams during the three days. Fittingly, the final game was between Team Black against Team Blue: trainers handed out plenty of ice packs afterward, and rookies Brad Malone and Dillon Donnelly each probably received one for their aching heads and fists.
They fought — the only scrap of the camp — during the spirited game, but were the first ones to shake hands after the buzzer.
“Guys just playing hard,” Sacco said of the fight, which was basically a draw between a bigger 22-year-old center (Malone) and an 18-year-old defenseman (Donnelly). “I was just looking for guys to compete hard and something that’s what happens.”
No significant injuries were reported.
The Avalanche will play its annual Burgundy/White intrasquad scrimmage Tuesday night at the Air Force Academy, and then open the preseason Thursday at Dallas.
Sacco said 40 to 50 players will participate in Tuesday’s scrimmage, and the first round of reassignments and cuts will be made soon thereafter.
Colorado’s pre-season home-opener is Friday against the St. Louis Blues.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
