While former, current and hopeful Monsters players are on the ice this weekend at Avalanche training camp, Lake Erie broadcaster Ben Holden is right there with them. Holden is checking in from the Pepsi Center in Denver, where he caught up with one-time Monsters players Kyle Cumiskey, Chris Stewart, David Jones and TJ Galiardi and found out how their time with the Monsters helped them get to the "big show" in the NHL.

Defenseman Kyle Cumiskey spent the early years of his young and promising professional career in Cleveland with the Monsters before he spent all of the 2009-2010 season with the Avalanche. Cumiskey played in 61 games with the Avalanche last season, scoring 7 goals and adding 13 assists. He is part of a great young core of players in Denver that developed their games in Lake Erie before heading "up top" with the Avalanche.

Another original Monster from the franchise's inaugural season in 2007-08, last season forward Chris Stewart led the Avalanche in goals with a career-high 28 goals. He played in 77 games and also had 36 assists to finish the season with 64 points. Stewart was recently rewarded by the Avalanche with a new multi-year deal.

Winger David Jones spent some time in Lake Erie before getting the call to the show. Last season started out great for Jones who over the first 23 games of the season scored 10 goals and set up 6 others for 16 points. But a knee injury in November sidelined Jones for the rest of the season and he's very anxious to start this season after extensive rehab.

Forward T.J. Galiardi spent part of one season in Lake Erie with the Monsters before making his way to the Avalanche as a full time player. The Calgary native plays a high-energy game and last season in 70 games with the Avalanche he scored 15 goals and set up 24 others for 39 points as the Avalanche made it back to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Kyle Cumiskey	Chris Stewart
David Jones	TJ Galiardi