AND COLORADO MAKES 30...

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - When defenseman Kyle Quincey skated onto the ice Thursday night during the Colorado Avalanche's season opener against the San Jose Sharks at Denver's Pepsi Center, it marked a milestone for the Grand Rapids Griffins franchise.

Colorado became the 30th and final National Hockey League club for which a former Griffin has played since the team's inception in 1996. Quincey, who made his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings on a recall from Grand Rapids on Nov. 25, 2005, joined the Avalanche in a July trade from Los Angeles, setting the stage for tonight's achievement.

Since Pavol Demitra suited up for the St. Louis Blues on March 17, 1997 to become the first Grand Rapids alum to play in the NHL, 101 others have graduated from the Griffins, most recently Detroit's Ville Leino on Jan. 31, 2009.