Avalanche happy with progress

MAT-SU — The Alaska Avalanche are sitting at just 2-6-1 after their first nine games of the season. But Alaska head coach and general manager Jamie Smith knows it’s much to early for the Avs to be fixated on the North American Hockey League standings.

“It’s going to take us 20 games to get moving,” Smith said by phone from Blaine, Miin., on Monday, where the Avs are preparing for the final two contests of a 10-game, 27-day road trip. “We’ve only got five kids who have played Junior A hockey.”

Rather than focusing on merely the wins and losses, Smith has been looking at the improvement of a very young hockey team. And he’s pleased what he saw last weekend during a two-game split with a tough Southern Minnesota squad.

“We played great last weekend,” Smith said.

The Avs scored their second victory of the year, a 3-2 win over the Express on Saturday, and nearly had another win on Sunday. Southern Minnesota scored a pair of unanswered goals in the third period to post a 4-2 win over the Avalanche.

“We’ve made some big strides,” Alaska forward Jeremiah Dargis, a former Wasilla High standout, said by phone on Monday. “We’re really coming together as a team.”

A pair of new additions to the Avalanche squad factored heavily into the Avs’ win over the Express.

Scott Barerra, a forward Alaska acquired in a trade with Southern Minnesota, scored the game-tying goal against his old team in the second period. Kent Detlefson, a defenseman traded to Alaska by Alexandria, assisted on the play.

Kevin Anger, another former member of the Express who was traded to Alaska before the beginning of the season, posted a goal and an assist in the win.

Barerra was traded to Alaska for future considerations, Smith said. The Alaska head coach said he expects Barerra to be a solid second or third-line center for the Avs.

“He’s got some real hockey sense,” Smith said. “He’s pretty fast, has good stick skill, and scores. He can put the puck in the net.”

Smith said Detlefsen fills a huge void for the Avs.

“He’s a great addition,” Smith said of the puck-moving blueliner. “He solidified the defense.”

During the offseason, the Avalanche lost their three top defenseman to teams in other leagues. Reed Rushing, a former Alaska captain, and Tyler Elbrecht opted to play in the United States Hockey League, while Casey Dion chose to play in the British Columbia Hockey League.

“That was the core of our defense,” Smith said. “It killed us.”

Smith felt the void in the defense directly related to the amount of shots opponents have put on the Avalanche goal early in the season.

“No doubt about it,” Smith said. “We’ve closed the gap on that.”

To bolster the defense, Smith also decided to move one of his top forwards — Travis Stevens — back to the blueline.

“He’s just so smart with the puck,” Smith said.

Smith said the coaching staff continues to make changes to the roster and game lineups, and the coaches learn more about a team made up primarily of newcomers.

“We’re finding out who can play and who can’t,” Smith said.

Smith said the Avalanche also decided to trade forward J.P. Boucha. The Warrod, Minn., native is now skating in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

The Avalanche begin a two-game series against the Alexandria Blizzard in Alexandria, Minn., on Friday and Saturday. The first puck is set to drop at 4 p.m. AST.

Contact Jeremiah Bartz at 352-2273.