Avs continue to make roster moves

PALMER — Before the 2010-11 season, the North American Hockey League reduced the roster maximum for each of its 26 teams by two players. Like many of the other teams in the NAHL, the Alaska Avalanche have spent the first half of the season adjusting to life with 23 players, rather than the old maximum of 25.

“It’s definitely something of a learning experience with the 23-man list,” Avalanche first-year head coach Brian Huebel said earlier this week. “But every team is going through it.”

And as the Avs continue to adjust, the team has continued to make roster moves. Earlier in the week, Huebel and the Avs announced a pair of trades and the release of two players.

Alaska traded forward Seth Johnson to Janesville, an NAHL rival, for forward Ross Pavek. The Avs also acquired defenseman Dan Senkbeil from the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League, and signed forward Cody Bisbing. Forwards Charlie Borer and Tyler Pistone, and defenseman Alec Doig were released.

“We’re trying to get the best team together,” Huebel said. “There’s got to be talent, but there’s got to be good chemistry in the locker room and cohesiveness as a team.”

Huebel said the players moved weren’t necessarily a bad group of guys, the Avs are just trying to put together a squad with the best chance of a playoff run.

“We just feel different situations might work better,” Huebel said.

Arguably the most notable move involves Johnson, who posted six goals, six assists and a plus-11 rating during 15 games with the Avs this season. The feisty forward also racked up 59 penalty minutes. Huebel said he sees the move as beneficial for both the Avs and Johnson, who can return closer to his hometown of Woodruff, Wisc. The Jets hail from Janesville, Wisc.

In return, the Avs receive Pavek, who posted 6-2-8 totals and a plus-1 in 14 games with the 9-4-2 Jets.

“He’s a good size kid,” Huebel said of the 6-foot-2, 215-pound forward.” He’ll add a little size to the lineup.”

The Avs also acquired another big player in Senkbeil, a 6-4, 191-pound blueliner. Huebel said Senkbeil, who has five assists in 58 career games in the Tier I USHL, is an offensive-minded defenseman.

“We think he’s a real good, real high-end kid,” Huebel said.

A native of Fremont, Calif., Senkbeil garnered a lot of interest while playing at the midget level. Huebel said there was even interest from NHL scouts.

“He’s very offensive, very skilled,” Huebel said.

Alaska also signed Bisbing, a 5-10 and 160-pound forward, late last month. Bisbing is a plus-1 in two games with the Avs.

Borer, a native of Brooklyn Park, Minn., recorded 1-1-2 totals and a plus-3 rating in 13 games with the Avs. Doig collected two assists and was a minus-4 in 15 games.

Pistone was scoreless in just two games.

Huebel said Pistone, a USHL veteran and University of Army recruit, opted to take the remainder of the 2010-11 season off to continue recovering from a shoulder injury.

After nearly a two-week break, Alaska is back on the ice to host Kenai River tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Palmer Ice Arena. The teams also play Saturday.

Alaska and Kenai River are tied for third in the NAHL West with 18 points in the standings.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com. Follow him at Twitter at twitter.com/matsu_sports.