Alaska defenseman named NAHL West Division Player of Week

WASILLA — It’s hard to say what sticks out most, statistically, about Shawn McNeely’s first four games in an Alaska Avalanche uniform.

The Brooklyn Park, Minn., native and Junior A hockey veteran collected five points (a goal and four assists) during Alaska’s four games in the North American Hockey League Showcase earlier this month, and those five points ranked him first in scoring among defensemen in the NAHL after the first week of the season.

But he also posted a +5 plus-minus rating during those four games. And considering Alaska’s woeful history with that stat, McNeely’s +5 is a number the Avalanche are excited about.

“It’s the combination really,” Alaska head coach Dave Boitz said. “He’s a smart player, he’ll get a lot of assists. But he’s outstanding defensively and that’s really the most important part.”

McNeely was recognized for his play at both ends of the ice earning the first NAHL West Division Player of the Week award of the 2008-09 season.

Alaska struggled on the defensive end of the rink last season, yielding league highs in both shots and goals. The Avs’ play on defense was a constant source of frustration that produced absolutely horrific numbers on the plus-minus scale, a statistic that compares the goals scored with the goals against when a particular player is on the. Alaska didn’t have a player with a positive plus-minus rating, and the Avs’ regulars hovered in double-digits — on the minus end.

With that in mind, a focus for Alaska during the offseason was the need for veteran defense-minded defensemen.

That’s where McNeely came in.

McNeely, who skated for the now defunct Fargo-Moorhead Jets last year, was initially recruited to play for North Iowa when Boitz was still the Outlaws’ bench boss. But after making the move to Alaska, Boitz found a way to bring McNeely with him.

“He’s a very cerebral hockey player,” said Boitz, who has followed the player’s career since McNeely was a young athlete in Minnesota. “He understands where to be and why to be there. His knock was always his foot speed, but that’s not an issue any more at all.”

McNeely has combined with defenseman Beau Braun — a former North Iowa skater who Boitz also hand-picked to come to Alaska — to put together one of the more formidable defensive pairings the Avs have had during their stay in Wasilla.

“There’s no question they’re really good defensemen,” Boitz said. “They’re really great kids.”

Add Anchorage native Braden Kinnebrew — a player Alaska recently acquired in a trade with the St. Albert Steel of the Alberta Junior Hockey League — and Anchorage native and second-year Avalanache skater Jason Cohen, and the Avs now present a solid veteran nucleus on their back line.

“We had to get guys who’ve played back there,” Boitz said.

Avs skate on

USNTDP squad

Alaska’s top offensive line of Alex Young, Kyle Pichler and Tyler Currier skated for the US National Team in an exhibition agianst UAA last week.

The USNTDP topped UAA 4-3 at the Menard Ice Arena.

Dargis scores first goal since leaving Alaska

Jeremiah Dargis, a former Wasilla High standout who skated for the Avalanche last year, scored his first goal away from Alaska.

Dargis, who is now with the NAHL’s Springfield Jr. Blues, scored and was a +1 in a 4-2 loss to Topeka on Saturday.

He now has a goal and an assist with a -4 rating in six games this season.

Former Alaska captain Reed Rushing, who skated in Wasilla during the 2006-07 season, scored his first goal of the year for the NAHL’s Motor City Machine during a 4-2 loss to St. Louis on Friday.

Nathan Corey, one of two goalies on the 2007-08 Alaska roster, is 1-1 witha 3.75 GAA in two games with the New England Jr. Huskies of the Eastern Junior Hockey League.

Former Alaska defensemen Tim Niedzielak (2008) and J.C. Richardson (2006-07, 2007-08) are playing for the Baystate Breakers of the EJHL. Both have skated in six games for the Junior A Tier III program. Niedzelak has scored one goal.

Blake Huppert, a 2008 Colony High graduate, has two goals and four assists in six games for the Junior B Peninsula Panthers of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.

Fellow Colony grads Andrew Bargelski and Chris Breck are playing for Westshore of the VIJHL. Bargelski has two assists in four games, while Breck has a goal and an assist in seven games.

Jake Henkel, a 2008 Houston graduate, had one assist and 48 penalty minutes for Westshore of the VIJHL, but is now with Rivery City of the NOR PAC.

Colony grad earns spot in ECHL

Nathan Schwartzbauer, a Colony graduate and former Bemidji State University standout, signed with the Dayton Bombers of the East Coast Hockey League earlier this month.

After signing with Phoenix of the ECHL last season, he spent most of the year with the Central Hockey League’s Youngstown Steelheads, posting a +11 with three goals and eight assists.

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