Avalanche-Red Wings Stadium Series event to feature 'rivalry era' alumni game

The NHL is set to revisit one of its great modern rivalries.

The Colorado Avalanche will host the Detroit Red Wings at Coors Field during an installment of the league's Stadium Series on Feb. 17, 2016.

As part of the festivities, an alumni game will be played the night before, featuring players from both clubs who competed during the rivalry era from 1996 to 2002, the Avalanche announced Monday.

"We have had an outstanding rivalry with the Red Wings during those years," said Avalanche president and general manager Joe Sakic. "We are looking forward to experiencing this grand outdoor setting and a special weekend of hockey in Denver."

The rivalry began in earnest during the 1996 Stanley Cup Playoffs - highlighted by Claude Lemieux's check from behind on Kris Draper - and came to a head thanks to a series of on-ice fights and brawls over the following few years.

The list of participants from the Avalanche include Hockey Hall of Famers Sakic, Patrick Roy, Peter Forsberg, and Rob Blake, while the Red Wings will feature Hall of Famers Chris Chelios, Brendan Shanahan, and Igor Larionov, as well as Nicklas Lidstrom.