Avalanche goaltender to man a collegiate net

WASILLA — The Alaska Avalanche are becoming pretty good at producing collegiate goaltenders.

For the third time in the history of the three-year franchise, Alaska’s top netminder is moving on to the college level.

Dusan Sidor, who led the Avs in virtually every goaltending category, has committed to play for Division III Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

While two of Sidor’s predecessors in the Alaska net — Air Force Academy sophomore Andrew Volkening and Boston University freshman Adam Kraus — are now stopping pucks at the Division I level, Sidor is perfectly content with manning the net in a Division III arena.

“The puck slides the same way in both leagues,” Sidor said. “All the guys can shoot.”

Sidor, who was third in the North American Hockey League with 1,303 saves and stopped a league-best 35 shots per game during his lone season with the Avalanche, will hit the college game after just one season of hockey in the United States.

A native of Slovakia, Sidor left Europe with the intent of earning the opportunity to play college hockey.

“I’ve always wanted to play hockey in the states,” Sidor said. “I heard about the opportunity to play juniors and move on to college.”

Sidor played for a junior team in Italy last year, and applied to try out for a few teams in the U.S. during the offseason.

“In Europe, if you play in the U.S. your value as a player is higher,” Sidor said.

Although Sidor just recently turned 21 years old, he is certainly not young when it comes to hockey.

Not only has Sidor played the game for most of his life, has the hockey pedigree.

His father, Dusan, is currently the goaltenders coach for HC Lugano, a professional team in Switzerland that includes former NHL netminder David Aebischer.

“I’ve always wanted to be a goaltender, just like my dad,” Sidor said. “Ever since I can remember he’s been coaching me, trying to make me better.”

Sidor said Stevens Point began pursing him early in the 2007-08 season. Sidor was contacted by the Stevens Point coaching staff after his second game in an Alaska uniform, a contest in which he stopped 49 of 53 shots he faced en route to leading the Avs to a 5-4 win over Fargo-Moorhead at the NAHL Showcase in September.

“They contacted me right after that, and we’ve been in touch for the whole season,” Sidor said. “It looks like a real good opportunity.”

The win marked the first of 10 games this season in which Sidor recorded 40 or more saves. He stopped a career-high 61 shots during a 5-2 loss to Fairbanks on March 29.

Alaska general manager Jamie Smith believes Sidor has the chance to make a real impact in Division III hockey.

“He has the potential to be a Division III All-American,” Smith said earlier in the offseason.

Sidor could be one of four Alaska players to play Division III hockey next fall. Teammate Teddy Zierden committed to Wisconsin-River Falls earlier this year. Forwards Sean Ranum and Michael McCurtain area also expected to join Division III teams, Smith said.

Stevens Point is a member of both the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Northern Collegiate Hockey Association.

The Pointers, who finished the season 14-9-4 overall, already have a standout in net — freshman Thomas Speer recorded a 1.78 goals against average and was named first team All-WIAC — but Sidor said the extra competition will only help him.

“It’s going to be a good challenge,” Sidor said.

Stevens Point also features two other former member of the Alaska franchise. Forwards Reed Lally and Chris Conway both skated for the Wasilla Spirit during the 2005-06 season.

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