Avalanche pluck forward from United States Hockey League

WASILLA — The Alaska Avalanche coaching staff had no intention of tinkering with the roster at this point in this season.

But that was until a touted prospect fell into their laps.

Alaska has added forward Colton Warner to the roster, Avalanche head coach Dave Boitz said late last week.

Warner, a 6-foot-3 and 215-pound forward, will add size and a physical presence up front, Boitz said.

“He’s a real big kid. He’s got good skills and he skates well,” Boitz said. “He’s one of those guys who can really develop into a great player.”

The Avs tendered the Apple Valley, Minn., native in the offseason, but Warner opted to play for Waterloo of the Junior A Tier I United States Hockey League.

Warner skated in six games for the Blackhawks before the USHL program started to make significant changes to its roster.

“We were not looking, but when he became available, we knew eventually we’d have to take him,” Boitz said.

Boitz said the Avs didn’t want to see Warner land on another NAHL roster, and he felt the Avs could use another tough forward to battle the more physical teams in the league, such as Wenatchee.

Warner met the team in Wenatchee, Wash., and made his debut with the Avalanche against the Wild on Friday.

Warner posted a team-high 17 goals and nine assists as a senior at Apple Valley High School last season. Warner was originally one of the first handful of tenders discovered by first-year Avs assistant Brian Huebel.

Warner is now the biggest player on the Alaska roster. Before the addition of Warner, only a half-dozen Avs players stood at 6-1 or taller, and only three tipped the scales at 200 pounds or more.

Boitz said he’s not concerned with the overall size of the team, as long as his players bring energy and toughness to the ice.

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