Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) makes a save against Montreal Canadiens' Nick Suzuki (14) during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

MONTREAL — When Keith Clark found out last month the Colorado Avalanche would be donning Quebec Nordiques jerseys for their matchup against the Canadiens in Montreal this season, he knew he had to be there.

Even if that meant travelling two hours from his hometown of Lake Placid, N.Y., to make it to the Bell Centre.

“This is going to be the best two jerseys going against each other that the NHL can produce, in my opinion,” said Clark before the game.

A lifelong Nordiques fan, who came decked out in a white team-issued cap and grey Quebec pullover hoodie, Clark distinctly remembers watching Montreal-Quebec matchups on Hockey Night in Canada growing up.

“When I was a kid, Quebec had sick uniforms,” he said. “They also had the Stastny brothers (Peter, Anton and Marian), Michel Goulet, Michel Bergeron as coach. I loved them all.”

Much of that nostalgia from the 1980s and 1990s was at the forefront Thursday night all throughout the Canadiens’ 7-3 win over the Avalanche.

Montreal used the Nordiques logo, not that of the Avalanche, on the jumbotron during the game. The team’s public address announcer also continually referred to Colorado as the Nordiques when announcing a goal or penalty for the visiting team.

A pre-game video highlighting defining moments from what was once known as the Battle of Quebec was also shown just prior to puck drop.

It marked the second time this season the Canadiens faced the “Nordiques” (also on Nov. 29 in Denver). Overall, Colorado will sport their throwback powder blue jerseys eight times this season in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Avalanche’s relocation from Quebec City to Denver in 1995.

Phillip Danault is one of only four members of the Canadiens to have been born during the Nordiques’ existence, along with Mike Matheson, Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson.

Danault can, therefore, be forgiven for not having any vivid memories of the Montreal-Quebec rivalry. Nevertheless, the Victoriaville, Que., native appreciates the league’s recent nod to the game’s history.

“The sweaters will be nice,” said Danault following his team’s morning skate on Thursday. “It brings back memories from a time I wasn’t around. Just the history and the buzz it has created, it was a good idea to bring the jerseys back.”

“I never had the chance to see them play, but people talk,” added Canadiens forward Zachary Bolduc. “I played in Quebec for the Remparts (of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League) and people talk about the Nordiques, even to this day, about how they want them back in the NHL.”

That wish appears to be falling on deaf ears within the offices of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman in Manhattan, N.Y. Repeated attempts by Quebec-based groups to bring a team back to Quebec City have led nowhere, with focus shifting instead towards expansion or relocation of existing teams to American markets, like Houston or Atlanta.

In the 30-plus years since the Nordiques left Quebec City for Denver, there have been three franchise relocations to U.S. cities, as well as seven American expansion clubs joining the NHL family. The Atlanta Thrashers’ relocation to Winnipeg in 2011 was the league’s only move back to Canada over the last three decades.

Since 2002, 15 pre-season games have been contested in Quebec City, including nine at the Videotron Centre. The NHL-ready arena, which opened in 2015 at a cost of nearly $400 million, houses the Remparts.

“I think it would be great for Quebec to get their franchise back,” said Canadiens fan Al Peters of Brockville, Ont. “You’d get another original rivalry going, like we had here for years.”

Clark is hopeful that the Nordiques will, one day, return to Quebec City, even if his allegiance would admittedly likely remain with the Avalanche.

“I’ve always believed that Quebec was the one Canadian city that would have a huge fanbase right off the bat,” said Clark. “Honestly, they’ve added a lot of U.S. teams that haven’t been great when it comes to support, so why wouldn’t you try one north of the border?"

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2026.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2026