Avalanche ready to hit the ice

PALMER — After two weeks of intense practice, the Alaska Avalanche will finally have the chance to line up across from someone different tonight.

The Avs, who officially open their North American Hockey League season against the Amarillo Bulls Wednesday during the first day of the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minn., will scrimmage a collection of Anchorage-area talent tonight at 6:45 p.m. at the Subway Center in Anchorage.

First-year head coach Corey Millen said it’ll be nice to finally see his talent line up against another club. But while the Avs need game action, a handful of the talent simply needs to heal.

“We’ve got some guys banged up,” Millen said.

A few of the injuries are more serious than others. Forward Brandon Brossoit, a top veteran who bagged 15 goals and 21 assists last season, still has not fully healed from an offseason surgery. Other players are simply suffering from more nagging injuries.

“We’re hoping they’ll be OK,” Millen said.

Some of the injuries are a product of what Millen called, “intense practice.” While he doesn’t want to see his players go down, he was happy to see the Avs’ talent battle.

“There was a ton of battling,” Millen said. “I like that. I do appreciate that.”

Millen said Avs worked through tough 1-on-1, 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 drills.

“There was a lot physical (play), guys fighting for a spot,” Millen said. “You like to see that as a coach. The downside is potential injuries.”

Tonight, the Avs will play a squad made up Anchorage area players with college and professional experience. Former UAA and Alaska Aces forward Justin Johnson may be among the players facing the Avs, Millen said.

“They’ll all be pretty established hockey guys,” Millen said.

The Avs leave late Sunday for the Showcase and will play Amarillo, Bismarck, Jamestown and St. Louis during the event.

Avs make roster moves

The Avs have signed forward Jordan Watt, assistant coach Josh Petrich said Thursday.

The 5-foot-10, 159-pound forward and native of Corona, Calif., skated for the LA Selects AAA squad last season.

Petrich said he started the 2010-11 season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and played in 11 games.

“He’s a smaller kid, but very skilled,” Petrich said of the left wing.

Watt replaces forward Nolan Meyer, who is no longer with the team. Petrich said Meyer, a native of Cloquet, Minn., decided to attend college in his home state of Minnesota rather than furthering his hockey career.

“He gave it a try and it didn’t work out,” Petrich said. “We fully understand that.”

Petrich also said forward Matt Sanford is expected to be out for an extended period with a groin injury. The North Pole native suffered the injury during the second day of practice, Petrich said, and the injury is not healing.

“We sent him back to Fairbanks to stay with his parents and heal. It’s really not a roster move. We’re still going to give the kid a fair shot, but it will be better for him to be at home,” Petrich said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and contact him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.