The Denver Avalanche was an American soccer team based out of Denver, Colorado

Colorado

Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...

 that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1980 to 1982. Their home arena was McNichols Sports Arena

McNichols Sports Arena

McNichols Sports Arena was an indoor arena, in Denver, Colorado, USA, adjacent to Mile High Stadium. Completed in 1975, at a cost of $10 million, it seated 16,061, for hockey games, 17,171, for basketball games and contained 27 luxury suites, which were installed as part of the 1986 renovation. It...

. They should not be confused with the state's current NHL

National Hockey League

The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

 team, the Colorado Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...

.

History

In February 1980, the Major Indoor Soccer League awarded a franchise to Ron Maierhofer

Ron Maierhofer

Ron Maierhofer is a retired American soccer forward who owned the Denver Avalanche of the Major Indoor Soccer League.-Player:Maierhofer graduated from the Park School. He then attended Cornell University where he was a 1959 Second Team All American soccer player...

, to be named the Denver Avalanche. The team's first three players, all signed the same day were Tony Graham

Tony Graham (soccer)

Tony Graham is a retired professional soccer forward who spent one season in the North American Soccer League, one in the American Soccer League and three in the Major Indoor Soccer League....

, Chris Cattaneo

Chris Cattaneo

Chris Cattaneo is a retired American soccer forward who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and the Major Indoor Soccer League....

 and Adrian Brooks

Adrian Brooks

Adrian Brooks is a retired English-American soccer midfielder who spent two seasons in the North American Soccer League and at least one in the Major Indoor Soccer League...

. The team's first draft pick Erhardt Kapp

Erhardt Kapp

Erhardt Kapp is a retired Romanian-American soccer defender and current youth soccer coach. He was also a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team....

 passed on the Avalanche and signed with the New York Cosmos

New York Cosmos

The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...

 of the North American Soccer League

North American Soccer League

North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...

 instead. The team's first game, an exhibation match, took place on November 3, 1980, a 10-4 loss to the St. Louis Steamers

St. Louis Steamers (1979–1988)

The original St. Louis Steamers played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 through 1988. Their home fixtures were held at the St. Louis Arena.-Ownership:* Ben Kerner & Partnership * Thomas M...

. Coached by Dave Clements

Dave Clements

Dave Clements in Larne in County Antrim, was a football player and manager from Northern Ireland. He started his career as a left winger but also played as a defensive midfielder and left full back throughout a career which lasted from 1964 to 1976 in which time he played for Coventry City,...

, the Avalanche finished the regular season out of playoff contention, but in 1982, they made the playoffs only to fall to the St. Louis Steamers

St. Louis Steamers (1979–1988)

The original St. Louis Steamers played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 through 1988. Their home fixtures were held at the St. Louis Arena.-Ownership:* Ben Kerner & Partnership * Thomas M...

 in the first round. Clements was name the 1982 MISL Coach of the Year. The team entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1983.

Year-by-year

Year	Record	Regular Season	Playoffs	Avg. Attendance
1980-1981	16-24	3rd Western Division	Did not qualify
1981-1982	19-25	4th Western Division	First Round

Notable players

This list of former players includes those who received international caps while playing for the team, made significant contributions to the team in terms of appearances or goals, or who made significant contributions to the sport either before they played for the team, or after they left. It is clearly not yet complete and all inclusive, and additions and refinements will continue to be made over time.

Oscar Albuquerque

Oscar Albuquerque

Oscar Albuquerque is a former Canadian soccer midfielder. He spent most of his professional career playing indoor soccer with U.S. teams...

 (1980-82) Ralph Black

Ralph Black (soccer)

Ralph Black is a retired Scottish-American soccer defender who spent most of his career in indoor soccer.-MISL:...

 (1981-82) Adrian Brooks

Adrian Brooks

Adrian Brooks is a retired English-American soccer midfielder who spent two seasons in the North American Soccer League and at least one in the Major Indoor Soccer League...

 (1980-82) Neil Cohen

Neil Cohen

Neil Cohen is a former U.S. soccer defender. He played eight seasons in the North American Soccer League and six in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1976. In 2008, Neil was elected to the FC Dallas, "Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame" for his...

 (1981-82) Albert Gudmondsson (1981-1982)

Honors

All Star Game MVP

• 1980-1981: Adrian Brooks
  Adrian Brooks
  Adrian Brooks is a retired English-American soccer midfielder who spent two seasons in the North American Soccer League and at least one in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
  
  

Coach of the Year

• 1981-1982: Dave Clements
  Dave Clements
  Dave Clements in Larne in County Antrim, was a football player and manager from Northern Ireland. He started his career as a left winger but also played as a defensive midfielder and left full back throughout a career which lasted from 1964 to 1976 in which time he played for Coventry City,...
  
  

Staff

• Coach: Dave Clements
  Dave Clements
  Dave Clements in Larne in County Antrim, was a football player and manager from Northern Ireland. He started his career as a left winger but also played as a defensive midfielder and left full back throughout a career which lasted from 1964 to 1976 in which time he played for Coventry City,...
  
  
• Assistant Coach: Peter Duerden
  Peter Duerden
  Peter Duerden is a retired English-Canadian association football defender who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and the Major Indoor Soccer League...
  
  
• Director of Player Development: Mike Ditchfield