Avalanche score first win of season

BLAINE, MINN. — The Alaska Avalanche posted their first win of the season, scoring a 5-4 victory over the Fargo-Moorhead Jets during the first day of the North American Hockey League Showcase on Wednesday at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minn.

First-year forward Grant Highley posted the game-winning power-play goal with just less than seven minutes remaining in regulation to help the Avs improve to 1-1 on the season.

Former Houston High School standout Larry Kincaid set up Highley’s tally with an assist on the play.

Kincaid, of Wasilla, also scored on the power play late in the first period.

“(Kincaid) played fantastic today,” Alaska head coach Jamie Smith said by phone on Wednesday afternoon. “He was probably the best player on the ice today.”

Four of Alaska’s five goals were scored by players new to the NAHL. Three of the goals were scored by players new to junior hockey in general.

“When you look through the roster, we’re pretty young compared to most teams,” Smith said. “But they played fantastic.”

Former South Anchorage High School standouts Kyle Pichler and Dylan Jones each logged a goal and an assist in the win.

Defenseman J.P. Boucha, a veteran of the Superior International Junior Hockey League, also scored for Alaska.

The NAHL Showcase was created, in part, to give hockey scouts and opportunity to see each squad in the 18-team league over a four-day stretch. Smith the Avalanche coaching staff was approached by numerous scouts inquiring about their young talent.

Young, first-year players such as Jones, Pichler and Highley showed their ability to put the puck in the net. But Alaska’s young standouts also showed the knack to play with grit and aggressiveness.

Two other league rookies — forward Jeremiah Dargis of Wasilla and defenseman David Peterson of Anchorage — recorded assists.

Smith was also happy with his team’s ability to adjust in the win. The Alaska coaches designed a play to be used by their penalty kill unit, and 10 minutes into the third period, Jones took advantage and scored a shorthanded goal.

“The positive thing is we made adjustments and the kids reacted,” Smith said.

Alaska goaltender Dusan Sidor also stood out in the win, Smith said. In just his second start at the Junior A level in North America, Sidor, a native of Slovakia, recorded 33 saves for the Avalanche.

Fargo-Moorhead out-shot Alaska 33-19 in the game.

Alaska continues play in the four-day Showcase, Thursday against St. Louis, the defending NAHL champions. The puck is set to drop at 3:30 p.m. AST.

Alaska meets Traverse City (Mich.) on Friday at 1:30 p.m. AST.

Alaska’s games during the NAHL Showcase will be broadcast live via the Internet through B2 Networks, for a charge of $6. For more information and a link, see the Alaska Avalanche Web site, www.akavalanche.com.

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