The Colorado Avalanche are an American professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado.
 They play in the Central Division of the Western Conference in the National Hockey League (NHL).
 The team joined the NHL in 1972 as a charter member of the World Hockey Association, and were named the Quebec Nordiques, but moved to Denver in 1995.
 The Avalanche won their first Stanley Cup championship in 1996, and won another one in 2001.
 Having first played at the McNichols Sports Arena, the Avalanche have played their home games at Pepsi Center since 1999.
 The Avalanche are owned by Stan Kroenke, Greg Sherman is their general manager, and Gabriel Landeskog is the team captain.
François C.H. Giguère (born June 24, 1963 in Sainte-Foy, Quebec) was the former general manager and executive vice president of the Colorado Avalanche.
 He was promoted on May 24, 2006.
 He previously worked for the Dallas Stars as assistant general manager and, previous to that, he worked in the Avalanche organization as vice president of hockey operations for the 2001 season and as assistant general manager between 1995 and 2000.
 He also worked in the Quebec Nordiques organization between 1990 and 1995.
 He has won two Stanley Cups in his career with Colorado, 1996 and 2001.
 He was released from the Colorado Avalanche on Monday April 13, 2009.
The Quebec Nordiques were an ice hockey team who played in both the National Hockey League (NHL) and the World Hockey Association (WHA).
 This is a list of the head coaches they had during their existence.
 The franchise moved to Denver, Colorado, in 1995, and became the Colorado Avalanche.
Joseph Steven Sakic ( ; born July 7, 1969) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player.
 He played his entire 21-year National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise.
 Named captain of the team in 1992 (after serving as a co-captain in 1990–91), Sakic is regarded as one of the most capable team leaders in league history and was able to motivate his team to play at a winning level.
 Sakic led the Avalanche to Stanley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001, being named the most valuable player of the 1996 playoffs, and honored as the MVP of the NHL in 2001 by the hockey writers and his fellow players.
 As such, he is one of six Avalanche players in franchise history to participate in both of the team's Stanley Cup victories.
 Sakic was also named to play in 13 NHL All-Star Games and selected to the NHL First All-Star Team at centre three times.
Anders Myrvold (born 12 August 1975) is a Norwegian former professional ice hockey player, who last played for Norwegian GET-ligaen club Frisk Tigers.
 He made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut for the Colorado Avalanche on 6 October 1995, and has been part of the Norwegian national team.
 In the NHL, Myrvold played for Colorado (he was drafted by the team's predecessor, the Quebec Nordiques), Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, and Detroit Red Wings.
 He played four games in the 1995–96 Colorado Avalanche season when they became Stanley Cup Champions.
The Quebec Nordiques (French: "Nordiques de Québec" , pronounced ] in Quebec French, in Canadian English; literally translated "Quebec City Northmen" or "Northerners") were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec.
 The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association (1972–1979) and the National Hockey League (1979–95).
 The franchise was relocated to Denver, Colorado in May 1995 and renamed the Colorado Avalanche.
The 2016–17 Colorado Avalanche season was the 38th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 22, 1979, and 21st season since the franchise relocated from Quebec prior to the start of the 1995–96 NHL season.
 Colorado did not make the playoffs for the third consecutive year and also finished the season with their fewest points since moving to Denver in 1995, and their fewest since 1990–91.
 Their 22 wins were easily the fewest in the Colorado portion of franchise history, and their fewest since 1991–92.
 The team also became the first team since the 2004–05 NHL lockout (and the subsequent start of the salary cap era) to finish with a sub-.300 points percentage.
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States.
 They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL).
 The Avalanche arrived in Denver in 1995 after playing since 1972 as the Quebec Nordiques.
 Since their arrival, over 190 players have played at least one NHL game for the Avalanche.
 Forty-one of those players have won a Stanley Cup championship with the Avalanche.
 Six of those players—Adam Foote, Peter Forsberg, Jon Klemm, Patrick Roy, Joe Sakic and Stephane Yelle—were members of both Cup-winning teams in 1996 and 2001.
 Joe Sakic is the franchise leader in goals, assists and points.
This is a complete list of ice hockey players who were drafted in the National Hockey League Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche franchise.
 It includes every player who was drafted, regardless of whether they played for the team.
 The Colorado Avalanche franchise was founded in Quebec, Canada, with the name Quebec Nordiques.
 In 1995, the franchise moved to Denver, Colorado, and since then has won two Stanley Cups.
The Colorado Rockies were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982.
 They were founded as the Kansas City Scouts, an expansion team that began play in the NHL in the  season .
 The Scouts moved from Kansas City, Missouri to Denver for the  season .
 The franchise moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, for the  season and was renamed as the New Jersey Devils.
 The NHL did not return to Denver until the Quebec Nordiques moved there to become the Colorado Avalanche following the  season .

Question: In what year was the Colorado Avalanche hockey team, formerly known as the Quebec Nordiques, founded?
Answer: 1979