Hockey Mountain High: Your go-to Avalanche Podcast

Welcome to Rinkside with Aarif Deen, your destination for all things Colorado Avalanche and the NHL. Hosted by Mile High Sports' own Aarif Deen, this podcast dives deep into the day-to-day of covering the Avs, providing listeners with a blend of analysis, insider knowledge, and commentary. As a credentialed reporter with years of experience covering the team, Aarif brings an expert perspective that caters to die-hard fans and casual viewers alike.Each episode features in-depth discussions about the latest games and player performances, ensuring you’re always up-to-date with the team’s journey. Aarif also interviews key figures in the hockey community, offering exclusive insights and stories that you won’t find anywhere else. Whether it’s breaking down games, discussing trades, or player quotes from the locker room, this podcast is your go-to source for everything Avs.Join Aarif as he navigates the thrilling world of the NHL, sharing his passion for the game and fostering a vibrant community of hockey enthusiasts through his coverage on the daily beat. Tune in to stay connected with the Avs as well as stories from around the NHL.

Recent Episodes

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Recent Reviews

mikko96!

This show needs more love

Aarif is legit the smartest Avs beat writer. Love his show, his takes, this guy knows sooo much info. Also glad to see how often he drops a new episode, need these for my morning drive.
Avaholic1984

Great Avs content

Love listening to Aarif and his hockey takes! He’s knowledgeable and thorough, and presents a bit more of the older school journalist take than some of the newer homer types; no shade to anyone intended!
223534553

Blabber

Just a whole lot of talking to say nothing
Lovelylindsers

Amazing hockey insight

Aarif is an insightful and incredibly knowledgeable hockey journalist and it shows in his podcast format. To the point and inquisitive. I also appreciate the access to players and coaches and getting to hear about those interactions. Great pod! Go Avs!
Davey4727

Best Avs show

Best analysis show I found so far on the Avs
Msss Beee

I love all the stats

Aarif brings depth to this podcast by sharing the underlying numbers and deep insights about games and players. I find these fascinating myself and that plus his true appreciation for the players makes this a must listen.
Maxickes

Best AVS podcast

Super informative and great takes on the Avalanche and their seasons. Always excited when a new episode drops.
Balling penguin

Great Avs insider

Discovered this podcast last year and now I’m hooked. If you follow the Avs, passionately or passively, this will become your go to “pod”. Get in the know! 👍👍
Cisco_5280

Go Avs!

Awesome show and great information on the team. Thank you for being a part of my Avalanche 2022-23 season.
Athenaena

Best in Town

Really appreciate that these guys just focus on talking about the Avs without trying to imitate Spittin Chicklets. They have great insights and analysis, and they’re definitely my go-to Avs hockey podcast.
DrPuckGuy

Great informative pod

Go Avs!!
avs5280

5 stars

5 stars for the name of the podcast, 5 stars for the content
ch 012

Best avs podcast

I never listen to anything else
Carcar1234

Everything you want, nothing you don’t

Great pod. Informative and organized while also being laid back and entertaining. These guys have great hockey knowledge and are also in the room. I find the most popular Denver sports avs podcast absolutely annoying and unlistenable. This is my go to.
VincentN07

The best Avs podcast there is!

Listen to every episode, and it’s always a great perspective on the season. It doesn’t fall into the classic trap of being way too positive or way too negative - just balanced takes from smart guys.
Typo Knig

Pretty good Avs ‘cast

I thoroughly enjoy this podcast. Aarif has a solid analysis of the team and its games while JJ has the smooth radio personality to keep the pod on task. My only complaint is there’s not enough of them.
papi 2 swole

My go-to Avalanche podcast

There are many avalanche podcasts, but only a few (if any) can hang with this pod. Aarif and J.J. are incredibly knowledgeable and their great chemistry makes every episode a fun and easy listen. These dudes even make analytics and other advanced stat metrics easy to digest and understand. An essential listen for any fan of the burgundy and blue!
AvsLifer

Best in the market

Aarif is a breath of fresh air for Avs coverage in the short time he’s been here and has awesome chemistry with JJ. These guys know their stuff but are also entertaining and you can tell they enjoy what they do. You don’t get a lot of Avs coverage like this around here!! Keep the the good work dudes 🔥
kptchris

Top Notch

One of my favorite Avalanche Podcasts!
WarPigHockey

In-depth

Listening to the Kuemper Down episode and appreciated the nuanced discussion about concussion protocol and spotting. Also, great Avs analysis generally.
Zicci

Great podcast!

Incredible chemistry between JJ and Aarif. I really enjoy listening to these two. They know hockey and they get me caught up with my hometown team! Thanks guys! ♥️
crayolabrandon

Worst Avs podcast out there

Cringe worthy takes. No one cares about the question you once asked a player during a post game press conference. Trust me, no one is enlightened
mcG Avs Fan

Enough already

I’m about done listening. Way too much pessimism. If you’re not an Avs fan then go do something else! Always so negative. Go Avs!
lefseeter

Exceptionally insightful

Aarif is the future of hockey commentary. When legends like Bob Mackenzie retire the new generation of Canadian millennials like Aarif will fill the space of hockey commentary and modernize both the game and the commentary. Their insights are a break from the typically juvenile podcasts available about hockey, and although they don’t yet have the reach afforded to Elliot Friedman for example, its only a matter of time before Aarif is snagged by a network. So enjoy them in Colorado while they speak mainly about our sparsely covered Avalanche and give a bigger picture than the usual post game ramblings offered by their competitors.
RB9AVS

How dare you...

.....apologize for talking politics. This is your show to do with whatever you want. We are all citizens with an opinion in the most extraordinary times of the continuance of our democracy as we know it. That some ignorant people can’t understand it is not your problem and for you to apologize feels weak. But then, that is your prerogative.
podcastlistener303719970

Had to unsubscribe

Sorry guys, I really don’t need politics in a sports podcast. But don’t despair, you hate me anyway.....
Ararana

Had to unsubscribe

I’m not one to always look at the bright side of things but I cannot stand Boulding’s pessimistic outlook on almost everything. There are better ways to live bud. I had to unsubscribe. BSN is a much better podcast for Avalanche fans.
Nick1385

Average Avs Podcast at best

The opening credits claim that this is the best Denver Sports team coverage and if this podcast is any indication that is far from the truth. These guys can go a couple weeks between shows and when they come back they start examining events that over a week old and have already been discussed and analyzed by other media outlets. Some of the segments are nice but overall just feels second fiddle to other media outlets. Update: I was hard on this podcast last year but I really jumped the gun. This is actually one of the better Avs podcasts out there and I really enjoy the conversations and analysis they offer. I also enjoy the off topic conversations and look forward to new episodes.
DrewGuyer

Quality Podcast

I’ve been a fan of the host, Jj Jerez, since his days with BSN and have continued to follow his work for the last couple of years. I very rarely miss an episode of Avalanche talk and like listening to their insights. The co-host, Ryan, is an experienced guy that isn’t afraid to tell the hard truths. Sometimes his takes about the team aren’t what a fan wants to hear, but it’s good to have that other perspective. My only complaint would be the consistency. It seems like they just make an episode whenever they have time to get together and make one. I Wish there was more of a steady schedule, if it wasn’t for Twitter I would probably never see new episodes being released because my phone sometimes doesn’t notify me.
AvsLex

Must listen for Avs fans

The conversation on this podcast beats any other avs podcasts out there then to put the cherry on top the production is top notch. Love the player interviews and bump out music. The five stars of the week is always entertaining to. Great mix of knowledge and entertainment!!
Mopsopn90

Great podcast inconsistent pods

This podcast is great with JJ and Ryan. Although I enjoyed Mr Fogg, I think having Ryan around with his experience around the team makes the pod much better. JJ always comes in with the energy and he truly enjoys what he does. Ryan has so many stories of things we would have ever known which really keeps you wanting more. Really the only reason for 3 stars is that the podcasts are pretty inconsistent. Honestly it’s more of a surprise when a podcast does get posted. If there was a once a week pod or something this would be 5 Stars all the way.
Judeman5000

Who writes titles for reviews?

While ratings and listens will determine the winner of the Avalanche podcast battle, there's a few things we already know for sure. One thing is JJ is the BEST podcast personality right now. He's funny, knowledgable and is easy to listen to. The second thing we know is we have a real gem in Ryan given his experience working for the Avs. His behind the scene stories are very insightful and entertaining. Really great podcast.
goingbaldmax

Insightful and painless listening

JJ and Ryan are both very knowledgable about the Avs and hockey generally. Ryan's background with the professional team gives him unique insights and stories. JJ is passionate and clearly enjoys drilling into the details of what makes the Avs tick. Sound quality is consistently good, levels are stable, and both JJ and Ryan have pleasant voices, which does matter.
goatcopter

Great info, solid analysis

JJ and Ryan make a great team, bringing a nice mix of inside info and strong analysis to complement a fan’s perspective. A must-listen for Avalanche fans.
ElevationColdCoffee

Like listening to a Justin Bieber Christmas album!!

The addition of Ryan instantly makes this the 2nd best Avs Podcast IMO. As Borat would say, “Very nice!”
JoeS34

Good stuff

I think you should be able to produce more than one show a week.
Flashdurb

Meh...

The 3 stars are for JJ. Unfortunately he doesn’t realize that his incredibly annoying and non-hockey-minded co host drags down the entire show.
hrhshockey5

My go-to Avs Podcast

This is my favorite Colorado Avalanche podcast. They aren't obsessed with trying to be beat writers and break the next story. Instead they just try to provide interesting takes on what is going on with the team. The hosts are two die-hard Avalanche fans who approach their fandom in completely opposite ways. J.J. brings a bright and optimistic view of the team while Zach provides a more critical view of the team with a focus on how they can improve. Depending on which side you fall on, you will probably love one and hate the other, but that's part of the fun. Unlike some podcasts where the hosts can meander off topic and episodes can last for hours, these two stick to their format and wrap up nicely in 30 minutes each week. That means I can easily fit an episode in on my drive to work. I expect this podcast is only going to get better once there is more hockey to talk about and as they continue to develop chemistry together.
JdanishP

The one passionate man

JJ is fantastic and he has a bright optimism that is delightful to hear. Zack Fogg seems to play the pessimistic side kick here on the show which sometimes can be a little unbearable. Especially when he is getting names wrong and admitting to not seeing games etc. maybe it's just because it's the off season and the material will get better when everything is on the air. Overall a good podcast and JJ is a real stud. Zack can certainly step his game up a bit. Only other thing that ever bugged me was on the latest episode 9/28/17 at the end JJ wanted to bring up another topic that he was clearly excited to talk about. Mr Fogg said no let's just end it. I just got the feeling that only one of the hosts truly want to be there from this exchange and like my previous comments show it is clear which one that is. Here is to hoping the passion comes through from both sides of the mic once the season starts.
mylostshoe

Love actual analysis

These guys know hockey. Their banter isn't for old people and they don't do much of it. Mostly quality hockey talk. Thanks guys!
Deadfin

Zzzzzzzzz

Bad show. Zach Fogg doesn't have a clue about hockey and the other guy thinks everything he says is funny - when it's the exact opposite
ArgusDubbs

Bringing the People what they want

I Love this podcast; friendly banter with a real "good cop/bad cop" approach to the coming season. I love that these guy helped us get through a long offseason by continuing to find stuff to discuss even when news was scarce - really looking forward to the in-season coverage! Keep it up guys!
FunkyJuice

Informative and Entertaining

This is a real podcast with real pros. Not to mention these guys actually know hockey and dont focus all their time on trying to break meaningless stories nor do they spend much time off topic. This was made for hockey people who like quality delivery and analysis.
goavs91

What the Fogg?

I've been a fan of JJ for several years, and I want him to have a successful platform to talk about the Avalanche. But Zach Fogg knows less than nothing about the game of hockey. I'm suspicious that he's never actually watched a game. And sadly, my ears can no longer endure the brutal assault of his uninformed and thoughtless opinions.
Fletchmonger

Dater is BACK!

Great to hear his voice talking about the Avs again. And AJ, his guest, is one of the smartest Avs hockey guys out there. Can't wait for more!