4 to watch

WASILLA — The Alaska Avalanche have four players named Monday to the North American Hockey League’s annual Top Prospects roster.

Forwards Tyler Currier, Jason Cohen and Kyle Pichler, and defenseman Sean McNeely were named to the NAHL West Division roster.

“It’s a great opportunity for these guys,” Avs General Manager Jamie Smith said.

All-star rosters from each of the four NAHL divisions will compete against each other in the Top Prospects tournament held Jan. 18-20 in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Smith said the tournament is a great chance for the players to get exposure, with 58 NCAA Division I hockey scouts slated to attend.

“The whole point of this is for them to be able to sign a letter of intent,” he said. “It worked out for us last year.”

Smith said that last season, two of the Avs named to the Top Prospects team are now skating with college programs.

Teddy Zierden, a defenseman for the Avs last season, signed with Wisconsin-River Falls, and Kent Detlefsen signed with Wisconsin-Superior.

While Smith says the prospect tournament is a great opportunity for the Avs players, the timing of the tournament requires them to miss the Avs’ Jan. 17 home game against the Kenai River Brown Bears.

For the Avs, losing four of their top six points leaders could prove costly, especially since the team is currently weathering an 11-game losing streak.

“The timing is unfortunate.” Smith said.

That doesn’t mean to say that Kenai won’t be short-handed as well.

Kenai also had four players named to the prospect games, and Smith said he hopes it will even things out for the game.

But for now, Smith said he’s happy for his players and enjoyed telling them they were on the roster.

“They’re excited,” Smith said. “They’re fired up and ready to go.”

Contact Tyson Alger at sports@frontiersman.com or 352-2273.