With the release of EA Sports College Football 25 this week, it's a good time to take a look back at the Avalanche players who donned a college uniform before joining the burgundy and blue.
Let’s take a look at the Avalanche’s representation in NCAA men’s ice hockey.
Cale Makar
After being selected fourth overall in the 2017 NHL Draft, Makar began his collegiate career at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he made an immediate impact. As a freshman in 2017-18, Makar recorded 21 points (5 goals/16 assists) and finished fifth on the team in scoring. He was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team and All-Star Third Team.
In 2018-19, Makar won the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the best NCAA men's ice hockey player, and the Hockey East Player of the Year Award, becoming the first player in school history to win both awards. Makar finished as the third-leading scorer in the nation with 49 points (16 goals/33 assists) and was the leading defenseman in scoring and was named to the All-American First Team and the Hockey East All-Star First Team.
Makar helped UMass reach the NCAA Tournament, recording three points (one goal and two assists) in four games and leading the team to the national championship game, where the team lost to Minnesota Duluth, ending his collegiate career.
After all, Makar's stellar collegiate career was a harbinger of things to come when he made the move to the NHL.
Casey Mittelstadt
After being selected eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2017 NHL Draft, Mittelstadt enrolled at the University of Minnesota to play collegiate hockey in his home state. As a freshman in 2017-18, Mittelstadt recorded 30 points (11 goals/19 assists) in 34 games, ranking second on the team in scoring.
His performance earned him the honor of being named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and a finalist for the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award. The 2017-18 season was his only collegiate season, as he signed with the Sabres after his freshman season.
Ross Colton
After being selected 118th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Colton enrolled at the University of Vermont where he quickly became an impact player. As a freshman in 2016-17, he appeared in 33 games and recorded 27 points (12 goals/15 assists), tying for first on the team in goals and tied for second in points. He was also named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team.
As a sophomore in 2017-18, Colton recorded a team-high 16 goals and 23 points in 36 games for Vermont in his final collegiate season before signing with the Lightning.
Miles Wood
Wood was the 100th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils and attended Boston College for the 2015-16 season. As a freshman, Wood was fifth on the team with 35 points (10 goals, 25 assists) in 37 games, helping Boston College advance to the Frozen Four.
Wood signed with the Devils after his freshman season, moving away from his hometown to play for the program.
Devon Toews
Prior to being selected 108th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Devon Toeth recorded 17 points (1 goal/16 assists) in 37 games as a freshman at Quinnipiac University in 2013-14 and 20 points (4 goals/16 assists) in 31 games in 2014-15, finishing second among Quinnipiac defensemen in scoring both seasons. As a sophomore, he helped Quinnipiac reach the NCAA Tournament.
In 2015-16, his final collegiate season as a junior, Torwas led all Quinnipiac defensemen in scoring with 30 points (seven goals, 23 assists) in 40 games. Quinnipiac qualified for the national championship that season, losing to the University of North Dakota. Torwas was named to the All-ECAC Hockey Second Team and was a finalist for ECAC Defensive Defenseman of the Year.
Toews recorded 67 points (12 goals, 55 assists) in 108 games over three seasons prior to joining the Islanders.
Josh Manson
After the Anaheim Ducks selected Munson 160th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft, he enrolled at Northeastern University. As a freshman in 2011-12, he recorded four points (four assists) in 33 games and seven points (three goals/four assists) in 33 games as a sophomore.
Munson was named captain in his junior season 2013-14, when he recorded 10 points (3 goals/7 assists) and was named to the Hockey East Second All-Star Team and Hockey East Best Defensive Defenceman.
Munson signed with the Ducks after appearing in 99 games at Northeastern University and recording 21 points (6 goals/15 assists).
Logan O'Connor
O'Connor played three years at the University of Denver, recording four points (two goals and two assists) in 23 games during his freshman season in 2015-16. The Pioneers made an appearance in the 2016 Frozen Four but lost in the semifinals to North Dakota.
As a sophomore, O'Connor took a big step forward by playing in all 44 games for Denver, recording 18 points (7 goals, 11 assists) and helping the team win the 2017 National Championship. In 2017-18, O'Connor took another step forward as a junior, recording 21 points (7 goals, 14 assists) in 41 games, helping the Pioneers win the NCHC Tournament and being named to the All-Tournament Team. The Pioneers' bid to win consecutive National Championships, and O'Connor's collegiate career, came to an end with a loss to Ohio State in the NCAA Regional Finals.
During his time with Denver, O'Connor totaled 43 points (16 goals, 27 assists) in 108 games and was a very disciplined player, logging just 25 penalty minutes.
After a stellar collegiate career, O'Connor signed with the Avalanche as an undrafted free agent.
Sam Malinski
Like O'Connor, Malinski was an undrafted free agent entering college at Cornell University, where he recorded 16 points (4 goals/12 assists) in 25 games as a freshman in 2019-20 and 23 points (5 goals/18 assists) in 32 games as a sophomore in 2021-22, earning him a spot on the 2022 All-ECAC Hockey First Team.
As a junior in 2022-23, Malinski was Cornell's scoring leader among defensemen with 26 points (8 goals/18 assists) in 34 games and was named to the All-ECAC Hockey First Team and an AHCA East Second Team All-American.
Malinski's collegiate career ended after a 2-1 loss to Boston University in the NCAA Regional Final. Prior to signing with the Avalanche, he recorded 65 points (17 goals, 48 assists) in 91 games over three seasons at Cornell University.
