WASILLA — When it came to recruiting, the Alaska Avalanche had a few objectives for the offseason.

The Avalanche wanted to rebuild their defensive unit and add a few forwards to an already talented group of young front-liners.

But when it came to filling a void, one of Alaska’s biggest goals was centered around finding a few good ‘tenders. With the loss of goaltenders Dusan Sidor and Nathan Corey during the offseason, the Avs are bringing in a new crop of keepers to battle for spots in the 2008-09 lineup.

One of those goalies who will vie for a spot between the pipes is Garrett Tinkham, who was recently acquired in a trade with the Springfield Jr. Blues.

“He’s a 20-year-old who we hope can come in and be an anchor for us,” Alaska president and general manager Jamie Smith said recently.

Tinkham played sparingly during the 2007-08 season, sitting behind Springfield starter Phil Cook, who finished the year ranked in the top-10 in the North American Hockey League in wins, goals against average and saves percentage.

Without Cook in front of him, Smith said he feels like Tinkham could have put up those types of numbers.

“He’s a starting goalie in this league,” Smith said of Tinkham. “But the kid was playing behind one of the top goaltenders in the league.”

The Paradise, Texas, native was 1-2 with a 3.67 GAA in three appearances last season. His lone win came in a 4-3 victory over St. Louis, the winners of the 2008 NAHL Robertson Cup.

Also competing for a spot on the roster, Smith said, will be a pair of goalies who played for the Kenai River Brown Bears last season.

One of those players, Anchorage native Spike Alvarez, is a former member of the Alaska organization.

Alvarez started the 2005-06 season with the Wasilla Spirit, the team that later became known as the Alaska Avalanche. But early in the year, the franchise’s first year in Wasilla, Alvarez was lost for the season due to injuries suffered in an automobile accident.

Alvarez started the 2007-08 season in Kenai, but after starting the year 0-3-1, he was injured again and released, Smith said. He finished the season with the Dubuque Thunderbirds in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League.

Smith said Alvarez participated in an offseason camp with the Avalanche and he was impressed with what he saw of the 20-year-old.

“He looked really good,” Smith said. “We’re going to bring him into the final camp and see if he can compete with Tinkham.”

Smith said Matt Wichorek, another former Kenai River goalie, is also expected to compete for a job during Alaska’s preseason camp.

Wichorek was 5-14-3 with a 4.01 GAA in 24 games with the Brown Bears.

Sidor and Corey were the only goalies to suit up for the Avs during the 2007-08 campaign.

Sidor, who will begin his freshman season at UAA this fall, was 12-20-2 with a 4.47 GAA. Corey was 4-18-2 with a 4.59 GAA.

Corey, a former South Anchorage High School standout, will play for the New England Junior Huskies of the Eastern Junior Hockey League next season.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.