Avs coach makes the move from the bench to the front office

WASILLA — For nearly a year, Jamie Smith has manned posts as both the head coach and general manager in the Alaska Avalanche junior hockey organization.

But the franchise has changed considerably within the last few weeks, and so has Smith’s job description.

Now that the hockey franchise has made the transition to a nonprofit organization, Smith is making the move from his position head coach and general manager to his new spot as president of the Avs’ board of directors.

“I think it’s in the best interest of the whole program,” Smith said. “We need to make sure we make it financially. This is the sole reason for that.”

As president of the franchise, Smith will absorb the duties of the general manager, and hire a new head coach to take his spot on the bench. That announcement is expected in the coming weeks.

Smith admitted he was a bit reluctant to take a step away from his head coaching duties after just one season.

“For us to be successful (financially), I have to do that for now,” Smith said.

Smith said he will still lend a hand coaching the team, but his primary duties will involve business and marketing.

With the help of the new head coach, Smith will also manage recruiting and team personnel moves. Smith said there will still be an emphasis on keeping local on the roster.

At times during the 2007-08 season it was tough to juggle the on-ice and off-ice duties, Smith said.

“When you’re gone for 28 days, you’re not getting any business things done,” Smith said. “It’s hard to create revenue streams while you’re out of town.”

Smith has been a part of the franchise since the team moved to Wasilla from Springfield, Mo., more than three years ago.

Upon the organization’s arrival to the Valley, Smith became the team’s marketing director and was later promoted to head coach and general manager.

Smith sees his next move as another promotion, not a demotion from his coaching duties.

In addition to hiring a new head coach, Smith and the Avs are preparing for the 2008 NAHL draft in May, and a series of tryout camps this spring and summer.

Avs offering Home

Show Special

The Alaska Avalanche are offering a special price for 2008-09 season ticket packages this weekend at the Mat-Su Spring Home Show, slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex.

Season ticket packages will be sold for $99 each during the three-day home show.

According to the team’s Web site, www.akavalanche.com, season ticket prices currently run $229 for adults.

NAHL announces all-divisional teams

The NAHL announced the all-divisional teams on Thursday.

Six players in each of the three divisions were honored. Named NAHL All-South, the division that includes the three Alaska squads, were Wichita Falls forwards Adam Cardwell and Luke Salazar; Topeka forward Corey Jendras; Fairbanks defenseman Arthur Bidwill; Topeka defenseman Aaron Gens; and Fairbanks goalie Cody Reichard.

Named NAHL All-North were Alpena forward Erik Peterson; Mahoning Valley forward Derek Graham; St. Louis forward Ben Warda; Marquette defenseman Derek Grogan; St. Louis defenseman Wes Love; and St. Louis goalie Cal Heeter.

Named All-Central were Alexandria forward Luke Nesper; North Iowa forward Shea Walters; Southern Minnesota forward Ben Beaudoin; North Iowa defenseman Tyler Jundt; Springfield defenseman Dan Weiss; and North Iowa goalie Robbie Moss.

More awards — including the NAHL All-Rookie Team, rookie of the year and coach of the year — will be announced in the next week, according to a league press release.

The major awards and All-NAHL squad will be announced at the Robertson Cup Championship banquet on April 29.

Houston graduate

helps team advance

Former Avalanche forward and Houston High standout Larry Kincaid scored a goal to help the Alexandria Blizzard post a 5-2 win over the Southern Minnesota Express on April 13.

With the win, the Blizzard clinched the best-of-five series and moved onto the league’s division championship round of the 2008 playoffs.

Kincaid and the Blizzard now face Springfield in a best-of-five series that starts today in Alexandria, Minn.

Kincaid spent the final two months of the regular season with Alexandria after he was released by North Iowa.

Alaska traded Kincaid to North Iowa in January.

In other division championship matchups, Mahoning Valley will face St. Louis, the defending NAHL champions. Fairbanks meets Topeka. The winner of each series will advance to the 2008 Robertson Cup.

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