With the NHL season right around the corner, the Colorado Avalanche had to make a split second decision, starting with coaching.

In early August head coach Patrick Roy resigned effective immediately.  Roy, a former goaltender for the Colorado Avalanche, took on the role as head coach in May 2013.  He led the team to the first round of the playoffs in the 2013-2014 season, but was unsuccessful in the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons.  Roy resigned after another losing season with a record of 39 wins, 39 losses, and 4 overtime losses.

Effective August 25, 2016 Jared Bednar was named the head coach for the 2016-2017 season.  Bednar, a former player for the South Carolina Stingrays, has a history of winning.  From 1995-2002, Bednar started his career as a defenseman for the Stingrays.  Throughout his career as a defenseman, Bednar helped the team win two Kelly Cups.  After retiring he became the Stingrays assistant coach from 2002-2007.  In 2007, Bednar took over as the head coach.  In his second season as the head coach, he led the Stingrays to a Kelly Cup.  Throughout 2010-2015 Bednar coached four different AHL teams: the Abbotsford Heat, Peoria River, the Springfield Falcons, and the Lake Erie Monsters, brining success to all associations.

Even with Roy’s departure, Bednar is following in Roy’s footsteps and keeping the lineup the same.

With the first game of the season on October 15^th, the Avalanche and Bednar will have to show that even with the last minute decision, they’re able to come back and make it a successful season.