Alaska forward named to Top Prospect squad

PALMER — After posting only eight points during his rookie season, Alaska forward Jake Barber entered his second year as a bit of an unknown. But after scoring a team-high 30 points and league-high 20 goals during the first half of the season, Barber is catching everyone’s attention.

Earlier this week, Barber was invited to compete in the North American Hockey League Top Prospects tournament, which starts today in Walpole, Mass.

“The league is recognizing the year he is having too,” Alaska head coach Brian Huebel said on Wednesday.

Barber now joins Alaska teammates Jake Williams, Brandon Brossoit and Zach Smith in the event, created to showcase the league’s best talent in one venue.

Williams, Brossoit and Smith were all nominated by the Avs in September, before Barber climbed his way to the top of the goal-scoring ladder. But early in the week, a roster spot on became open. Teams across the NAHL were asked to nominate a player for the event. Barber was Alaska’s obvious choice, and the league agreed.

“In the league’s eyes, he was the most deserving to go,” Huebel said.

Huebel admitted he couldn’t have predicted a 20-goal first half for Barber, but the Avs aren’t exactly complaining.

“We knew he’s a good player,” Huebel said. “But he’s a young kid, the transition takes time.”

Barber wasn’t a regular in the lineup last year, appearing in only 38 games. But this year, he’s made the leap to the team’s top line. In 28 games, Barber has 20 goals and 10 assists for a team-high 30 points. He also leads the NAHL with nine power-play goals.

“He’s been given the opporunity to play on the top line for us and he’s taken the ball and run with it,” Huebel said. “You’ve got to give Jake and his linemates credit. They’re the ones doing it.”

Barber also leads the team with three shorthanded goals and five-game winners. He has a plus-8 rating and only 14 penalty minutes.

“Jake worked hard in the offseason,” Huebel said. “He’s a very smart player with a very good skill set.”

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