Avs add Wisconsin native to coaching staff

WASILLA — Brian Huebel was prepared to take a step away from the game of hockey. But after a trip to see Northern Michigan University play earlier this spring, Huebel knew he needed to return to the sport. Now, he’s once again a part of the game as the new assistant coach of the Alaska Avalanche.

“I watched (Northern Michigan) play, and I thought I’ve got to coach hockey,” Huebel said. “I’ve got to try it again. I’ve got to give it another whirl.”

Huebel, who spent two seasons as an assistant coach and general manager for the Wisconsin Mustangs of the Junior A Tier III Minnesota Junior Hockey League, spent time working on a business venture in Minnesota. Once he knew he wanted to jump back into the coaching ranks, Huebel told a coaching colleague to keep his eye open for job opportunities. That colleague told Huebel to call Alaska head coach Dave Boitz.

“He came highly recommended,” Boitz said.

Even though Huebel won’t officially call Wasilla home until August, Boitz said he’s already been recruiting for more than a month. In that time, Huebel has landed four prospects from Minnesota and Wisconsin.

In addition to recruiting, Huebel — a former college defenseman at Division III Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wis., will focus on coaching the defense.

“That’s his expertise,” Boitz said. “We really wanted an assistant coach to work with the defense.”

Huebel was a part of the Wisconsin Mustangs coaching staff from 2006-2008, and in 2007 the Mustangs staff was recognized as the MJHL Coaches of the Year.

The team was named the league’s organization of the year.

He also spent several years coaching hockey at Beaver Dam (Wisc.) High School, his alma mater.

Huebel said eventually he’d love to see himself on a college bench.

“I love the college game,” Huebel said. “I love watching the college game, being a part of the college game.”

But Huebel said he knows many college coaches work their way through the junior ranks before reaching that level. That, in part, led him to Alaska.

One difference between the levels is the business aspect of junior hockey. Huebel, who received a degree in marketing from Marian, is excited about that part of the responsibility as well.

“I’ve got an interest in business and being in a junior program allows me to dive into that,” Huebel said.

Huebel replaces former Alaska assistant Jake Williams, who decided he wanted to take a step away from the game to further his education. Williams, a former Houston High School hockey standout who ended his playing career at the Junior B level, was an assistant for the last two seasons.

Boitz also said Sean Fish, who recently capped a four-year career at Division III Wisconsin-Stevens Point, will be added as an assistant coach for the 2010-11 season.

The Avs currently have slots for only two coaches, but hopes to expand the staff before Fish is ready to arrive, Boitz said.

“We hope to keep them both on,” Boitz said. “And obviously the goal is to get Brian a head coaching job in the league in a few years.”

Wenatchee stuns Fairbanks

FAIRBANKS — The Wenatchee Wild stunned Interior hockey fans by taking a 2-0 best-of-5 series lead with a pair of wins over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs at the Big Dipper Ice Arena in Fairbanks last weekend.

The Wild, who topped Alaska 3-1 in a best-of-5 first-round series earlier this month, scored a 6-4 win in the first game and continued with a 4-3 win the following night.

The series heads down to Wenatchee this weekend. The Wild can take the series, and punch a one-way ticket to the Robertson Cup tournament with a win on Thursday.

Fairbanks won the North American Hockey League West Division title.

Fairbanks forward a finalist for MVP

FAIRBANKS — Fairbanks forward Austin Block, who led the NAHL in scoring with 73 points, is one of four finalists for the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award.

Bismarck goalie David Bosner, Mahoning Valley forward Brandon Saad and St. Louis netminder Keith Kinkaid are also finalists.

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