Alaska skated to a 4-3 shootout win in the series opener, followed with a 6-4 win and improved to 4-2-0 overall to keep hold of the top spot in the North American Hockey League West Division.
Earlier this week, a pair of Avalanche players were recognized by the league for the efforts during the two-game sweep of Alaska’s intrastate rivals.
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MacGinnis stopped 65 shots in two games against the Brown Bears.
After allowing three early goals, MacGinnis rebounded to lead the Avs to a 4-3 shootout win over Kenai during the first game of the series.
MacGinnis stopped 27 shots during the final two periods of regulation, five more in overtime and was perfect during the shootout.
“He got off to a rough start, but after that he was lights out for the rest of the weekend,” Alaska head coach Dave Boitz said.
MacGinnis made 30 stops during the second game of the series. Kenai River did manage to score four times against the Alaska netminder, but Boitz said, “the goals they got they had to earn.”
MacGinnis — Alaska’s primary netminder — is now 4-2-0 with a 3.93 goals against average and .872 saves percentage.
During his first NAHL season with North Iowa last year, MacGinnis put up solid numbers in limited playing time. Playing behind starter Robby Moss — arguably the top goaltender in the league during the 2007-08 season — MacGinnis appeared in 13 games, posting a 4-6-0 record, 2.76 GAA and .914 saves percentage.
Boitz, who coached MacGinnis at North Iowa last season, feels the netminder is finally taking advantage of an opportunity to see significant action.
“Consistency has always been his big thing, but he hasn’t had a lot of consistent playing time,” Boitz said. “He’s ceasing the moment and doing a good job.”
Currier scored a shorthanded tally and sparked the Avs come-back effort during the shootout win, and added another goal the following night.
“He had big goals,” Boitz said. “His all-around play was really good.”
With those goals, Currier now leads the team in scoring with seven points (4-3-7). Last season the Anchorage native, in his second year at the Junior A level, was among team leaders with 18 goals and 22 assists. Boitz expects Currier to continue to rack up the points.
“He could close to 60 points if he has a good year — no question,” Boitz said.
Currier’s play during the series was especially crucial, considering the fact the Avs were without a few big guns in the lineup.
Two of Alaska’s top scorers from a year ago — Alex Young and Dylan Jones — have been out with injuries. Kyle Pichler, Alaska’s leader in goals last season, was out Saturday after being dealt a game misconduct in Friday’s win.
Defenseman Beau Bran has also been injured.
Alaska, off for 20 days prior to its series against Kenai, is amid another two-week break. Boitz said a major priority as the Avs prepare for its game at Kenai River on Oct. 31 is simply getting healthy.
Braun and Jones are back practicing with the team, he said, and Young should be available next week also.
Wasilla product traded
Jeremiah Dargis, a former Alaska Avalanche and Wasilla High School forward, has been traded by the Springfield Jr. Blues to the Bismarck Bobcats, according to the NAHL.
It’s the third time in about four months that Dargis has been traded. Alaska sent the former Wasilla standout to Springfield for forward Derek Kimbro.
Dargis appeared in only nine games for Springfield, registering one goal and two assists.
He also collected seven shots, eight penalty minutes and had a -7 plus-minus rating.
Bismarck is in third place of the NAHL Central Division with a 5-6-1 record. Springfield sits at the bottom of the four-team South with a 2-7-2 mark.
Ice Dog sign former Avalanche forward
The Fairbanks Ice Dogs have added Brad McCabe, a former member of the Alaska Avalanche, to their roster.
McCabe, who signed his National Letter of Intent to skate for Division I Alaska Anchorage while playing with the Avalanche, left the UAA program earlier this month after just more than one season with the Seawolves.
McCabe posted seven goals and three assists in 29 games as a freshman with UAA.
During the 2006-07 season, McCabe recorded 14 goals and nine assists in 25 games with the Avalanche.
Fairbanks has also added Brandon Martell, a former United States Hockey League blueliner, who has already committed to the University of Minnesota.
Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.
Comments
3 comment(s)AVs...3 wrote on Oct 29, 2008 5:57 PM:
oh, and "Why" isnt very smart. Dargis is an amazing player. his carreer isn't over because he switched to Bismark...but even though he's awesome we dont need him up here....we got baby dargis. "
Currier3 wrote on Oct 29, 2008 5:53 PM:
Why-- wrote on Oct 24, 2008 9:25 AM: