Avalanche forward recognized by league

PALMER — As the two-time state player of the year, Robb Haider was once the undisputed king of Alaska prep hockey.

Now, Haider is one of a number first-year juniors working his way into the world of junior hockey. And, as seen during Alaska’s two-game sweep of the Kenai River Brown Bears in Soldotna last week, Haider’s work is starting to pay off.

Haider tallied two goals and two assists during the pair of wins over Kenai, and earlier this week the former South Anchorage High School standout was named the North American Hockey League West Division Player of the Week.

“He had a nice weekend, some real big goals,” Alaska head coach Dave Boitz said of Haider, who posted a goal and an assist each night.

Boitz said there have been some growing pains for the Haider, a player who led South to three large-schools state hockey titles during his final three years at South. But that’s not exactly uncommon, Boitz said, even for players who were at the top of their prep class.

“It’s tough mentally on a first-year guy,” Boitz said. “Like any young guy, he’s had his ups and downs. But he’s really soaring right now.”

Haider is now sixth on the squad in scoring with six goals and 10 assists. Two of his six goals were game-winners.

Last Friday, Haider scored Alaska’s fifth goal of the game to give the Avs the 5-3 lead. He also assisted on Justin Giles’ game-winner.

The following night, after Kenai took the early lead, Haider netted a shot to bring the Avs within one score.

Haider and the Avs will continue to try to move up the NAHL West Division ladder this weekend when they host the Wichita Falls Wildcats. Alaska used its wins over Kenai to jump the Brown Bears in the standings and land in third place with a 14-18-1 record and 29 points.

Alaska stands five points shy of second-place Wenatchee (16-14-2), which suffered a 5-2 loss to Fairbanks on Wednesday.

Alaska hosts Wichita Falls in a rare Anchorage home game tonight at 7:15 p.m. at the Subway Sports Center in South Anchorage. The Avs return to the Valley to host the Wildcats Saturday at 7 p.m. and again on Tuesday.

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