Avalanche make a pair of trades

PALMER — The Alaska Avalanche still have nearly three weeks until their next game, but things are staying busy in the team’s front office.

The Avs have made a pair of deals that will bring a high-scoring forward to Palmer and send a veteran front-liner out of town.

Alaska acquired forward Tanner Fahlstedt from Wichita Falls and has traded forward Ross Pavek to Aberdeen.

Alaska assistant coach Josh Petrich said the Avs weren’t necessarily looking for an upgrade at the forward position, but opted to bring in a different piece to fit into the puzzle.

Fahlstedt, a 20-year-old native of Centennial, Colo., leaves Wichita Falls as the Wildcats’ season-leader in goals (13), assists (14) and points (27).

“He’s a kid we’ve been trying to acquire all year,” Petrich said. “He’s a kid who a lot of people have told us is very dynamic. He brings a lot to the offensive size of the game. Throughout the year (as he) played under (Wichita Falls head coach Paul Baxter), the defensive side of his game has gotten a lot better to.”

In exchange for Fahlstedt, Wichita Falls (a team that features former Avs coaches Brian Heubal and Sean Fish on the coaching staff) received a pair of tenders.

Fahlstedt tallied 22-42-64 totals in 99 career games with the Wildcats. He also has scored two goals in five playoff games last season. Petrich said Fahlstedt’s work in the postseason is part of what attracted the Avs to the 5-foot-11, 185-pound forward.

“That’s pretty valuable experience going into a playoff push,” Petrich said.

Fahlstedt and the Wildcats took top-seeded Topeka to five games in the first round of the NAHL playoffs last season.

“That was one series picked to be a (Topeka) sweep, no problem,” Petrich said.

Pavek, who recently turned 20, was traded to Aberdeen for cash considerations. Petrich said Aberdeen’s persistence to land Pavek helped lead to the deal.

“The came after him really hard,” Petrich said. “The made an offer, came back and made another offer, and then came back with the motherload.”

Pavek skated in 44 of Alaska’s 45 games this season, posting 4-19-23 totals. He as also a plus-5. The Green Bay, Wisc., native finished with 11-34-45 totals in 77 career games.

He was acquired in a trade with Janseville early in the 2010-11 season. Aberdeen is third in the NAHL Central with a 22-16-5 mark, and has already earned a postseason berth.

Alaska is currently on about a month-long break, but will return to action Feb. 24 against Kenai River at the MTA Events

Center.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

and follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.