Avalanche tender Dimond High defenseman

WASILLA — The Alaska Avalanche are keeping another South Central product in the 49th state.

The Avs have tendered Dimond High School defenseman Tyler Morgan, Alaska head coach and general manager Jamie Smith said on Monday.

Morgan, a 5-foot-10 and 155-pound blueliner, helped lead the Lynx to a Cook Inlet Conference title and a third-place finish at the ASAA First National Cup 4A state tournament. The Anchorage native posted four goals and 12 assists as a senior.

“Tyler’s one of those solid guys with fantastic hockey sense,” Smith said.

Smith said the greatest thing about Morgan, who is a part of Alaska’s affiliate program, is his desire to play Junior A hockey as a member of the Avs.

“He wants to be here,” Smith said, noting that Morgan makes the commute from Anchorage every day to practice with the team.

As a sophomore, Morgan recorded five assists in 25 games with the Lynx and then skipped his junior season of prep hockey to play for Pikes Peak, a Colorado midget major team.

Morgan is one of five players already tendered by the Avs, and the third from Alaska. The Avs have also tendered Service senior forwards Logan Rounds and Ryan Kowal.

Rounds and Kowal helped the Cougars advance to the 4A state title game in February.

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