When the franchise officially prepared to relocate from Quebec City to Denver in 1995, ownership considered several alternative names before settling on the Avalanche. Archival reports and historical accounts reveal that management heavily favored naming the team the "Rocky Mountain Extreme" during early corporate planning stages. Other concepts under consideration included the "Blizzards" and the "Black Bears". However, when details regarding the "Rocky Mountain Extreme" moniker leaked to the local press through the Denver Post, the public reaction from fans and media was overwhelmingly negative, with many criticizing it for sounding more like an XFL football squad or an extreme sports energy drink. Recognizing the backlash, ownership quickly reversed course and chose the Colorado Avalanche, officially revealing the classic moniker on August 10, 1995.