Avalanche acquire blueliner

Dec. 5, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - The Alaska Avalanche bolstered their blueline Monday, with the addition of Todd Graham.

Alaska acquired Graham, a native of Anchorage, from the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. Avalanche general manger and coach Keith Morris said the club made the move to add depth, and give a little relief to his team's depleted crew of defensmen.

&#8220Our team is beat up physically. We've got some injuries,” Morris said. &#8220This will certainly help us down the stretch.”

Morris said Graham will felt well into the type of game the Avs are trying to play.

Graham is not a, &#8220stay at home banger,” Morris said, but at 5-foot-11, 180-pounds, the former West High School standout can skate, make plays with the puck and cover the entire sheet of ice.

&#8220He'll be a valuable commodity,” Morris said.

Also attractive is his experience. Graham is a 20-year-old skating in his second season in the NAHL.

Graham started the season with Marquette, but was shipped to Fairbanks in November in exchange for Artie Peckskamp.

Graham has four assists in 16 games this season.

Prior to the acquisition of Graham, the Avs had only eight defensmen on the roster, and three of those players have been injured. Captain Jeff Dimmen and first-year blueliner Clay Kasten are still out. Trevor Tolibas appeared in the lineup for the first time on Sunday.

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