By KDA Sports | March 26, 2025 | 2:05 PM MDT
With the 2025 NCAA tournament field finalized, players from eliminated teams are now free to sign professional contracts. This presents an ideal opportunity for the Colorado Avalanche to bolster their organizational depth, particularly for their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, and to fill out their rookie tournament roster.
Avalanche Secure Two NCAA Free Agents
The Avalanche have signed two NCAA free agents: goaltender Isak Posch and left-winger Cooper Gay. Both 23-year-olds have agreed to standard two-year Entry Level Contracts (ELC), set to begin in the 2025-26 season.
- Isak Posch is a netminder from St. Cloud State, a well-regarded program that has produced NHL-caliber goaltenders.
- Cooper Gay, a left-shot winger from St. Thomas, is already familiar with the Avalanche organization. He attended Colorado’s 2024 development camp, though he was unable to skate due to injury.
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Cooper Gay
Both players are expected to report to the Colorado Eagles in the fall, where they will have the opportunity to develop within the Avalanche system.
Colorado to Host Portion of the Rookie Tournament
Alongside the signings, reports from LA Kings insider Mayors Manor indicate that the Colorado Avalanche will host part of the annual Rookie Faceoff tournament in September. The tournament, which showcases prospects from multiple NHL teams, will feature a split format this year due to facility constraints.
Colorado originally aimed to host the full six-team event for the first time since the inaugural 2016 tournament, but logistical limitations prevented them from accommodating all teams. Instead, the event will be divided:
- Colorado will host the Utah Hockey Club and Vegas Golden Knights prospects at the South Suburban Sports Complex in Littleton, CO.
- The California-based teams (LA Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and San Jose Sharks) will play their games in Anaheim.
Event Details Still to Come
Hosting the tournament requires significant financial and logistical investment, prompting the decision to split the event. Despite this, Avalanche prospects will still have the opportunity to compete in a three-team format at a state-of-the-art facility rather than the older Family Sports Center.
The tournament is expected to take place between September 12-15, 2025, though official schedules, game times, and public access details have yet to be announced.
This event will give Avalanche fans an early look at some of the team’s most promising young players while providing newly signed prospects like Posch and Gay an opportunity to showcase their talent.
