Avalanche Will Retire Hejduk's No. 23 In January Ceremony

DENVER (AP/CBS4) — The Colorado Avalanche will retire the number of forward Milan Hejduk in a January ceremony.

Hejduk played all 14 of his seasons with Colorado and helped the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup title in 2001. He finished with 375 goals and 805 points in 1,020 games.

The 41-year-old Hejduk will have his No. 23 raised to the rafters on Jan. 6 against Minnesota. He becomes the sixth Avalanche player to have his sweater retired, joining Joe Sakic (19), Peter Forsberg (21), Patrick Roy (33), Adam Foote (52) and Ray Bourque (77).

"This is probably the biggest individual recognition of my career, that's for sure," Hejduk said. "My jersey's going to be hanging there with all the greats here."

"It's a great, special feeling and something that will stay with me forever."

Sakic, who's now the team's general manager, described Hejduk as a "quiet leader who led by example and always represented this organization and himself with class."

Hejduk was selected by Quebec in the fourth round of the 1994 draft.

(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)