Avs draft Anchorage goalie

PALMER — Assuming Trevor Gutierrez and Nick Kulmanovsky aren’t pulled by the lure of the United States Hockey League, come next season the Alaska Avalanche could be feeling pretty good about their tandem of goaltenders.

The Avs made a step toward filling the void left behind by record-breaking Wisconsin recruit Landon Peterson by selecting Gutierrez, a former South Anchorage High standout, during the first round of the North American Hockey League Draft last week.

“He’s a very high-end goalie,” Alaska general manager Dave Boitz said about Gutierrez.

Alaska selected Gutierrez with the 19th pick of the first round. As a senior, the Anchorage native was arguably the top goaltender in the 49th state, posting an 18-4-3 mark with seven shutouts, a 1.10 goals against average and .933 saves percentage. He was also the chief backstop of the Alaska All-Stars U18-AAA program, finishing 17-8-1 with a 1.92 GAA and .913 saves percentage. The USHL rights of Gutierrez are owned by the Lincoln Stars. Kulmanovsky is USHL property of Fargo. Both could bolt for the USHL, but may be relegated to reserve roles, Boitz said. The longtime NAHL coach and GM said when it comes to goalies, in recent seasons, the NAHL has boasted the cream of the crop.

“The NAHL goalies have gone much higher and done much better in the last few years,” Boitz said.

Both starting goalies in the NCAA Division I national championship games are products of the league. Kenny Reiter, who stood in goal for the title-winning Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, is a Fairbanks Ice Dogs alum.

“The NAHL’s had some terrific goaltenders. We’ve held our own against every league, Canada and the U.S.,” Boitz said.

Gutierrez and Kulmanovsky (3-3-0, 3.27 GAA, .896 saves percentage) would help ease the pain of the loss of Peterson, who broke a number of career and single-season records during his two-year stay in the Valley before heading off to become a Badger.

In addition to netting a goalie, the Avs also used three picks to beef up the blueline. Two of those selections — second-round pick Connor Hady and seventh-round grab AJ Merritt — have junior hockey experience.

“We got some bigger, stronger defensemen who played junior hockey last year,” Boitz said.

Both come to the Avs from the Superior International Junior Hockey League, which is based in Ontario, Canada.

Hady is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound native of Hermantown, Minn.

“He’s a bigger kid, but he skilled and can run the power play,” Boitz said of Hady. “He’s a pretty multi-talented kid back there.”

Hady contributed five goals and 12 assists in 54 games for the Fort Frances Lakers last season.

Merritt is even bigger, with a 6-5, 210-pound frame.

“He’s tough, rugged, a big kid,” Boitz said of Merritt.

Boitz said Merritt had tried out for the Avs in the past, but has grown about three inches since then. The Grand Rapids, Minn., native tallied 5-11-16 totals in 47 games with the Sioux Lookout Flyers.

The Avs also drafted a younger defenseman, Bryan McFarlane of the Madison Capitals, in the third round. McFarlane also brings size, he’s 6-2 and 175 pounds. The native of Scottsdale, Ariz., played for the same Madison, Wisc., program that sent Peterson and former captain Logan Maly to the Valley.

“We definitely feel like we need some help back there on the back end,” Boitz said.

Veterans Chase Van Allen and Joe Schmitz lead the Avs list of blueliners expected to return. Casey Nelson, who missed the latter portion of his rookie season due to injury, is also coming back to the Valley.

Alaska used another three selections to pick forwards in the draft. The Avs drafted Ryan Collins of the California Stars U-18AAA program in the fourth round, Codey Hansen of the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Drayton Valley Thunder in the sixth round and Colquet (Minn.) High standout Nolan Meyer in the eighth round.

Boitz saw Collins at the team’s Los Angeles camp in May and was impressed with the Murietta, Calif., native.

“He’s a really good player. I saw him at the LA camp and liked him a lot,” Boitz said. “He’s really smart, has great vision. He’s just a good, smart player who works really hard.”

The 6-foot, 180-pound center was also bigger than Boitz expected. Collins, 17, produced 26-31-57 totals for the Stars.

Boitz said new Avs head coach Corey Millen recommended Hansen and Meyer.

Hansen, who posted 2-7-9 totals in 42 games while playing in Western Canada last season, is a former Service High and Alaska All-Stars skater, and a player Millen has known.

Hansen was undoubtedly a standout at the Avs’ Anchorage camp in May.

“He does everything,” Boitz said. “He’s tough, he blocks shots. He plays with an edge.”

Meyer hails from the hometown of Millen, a longtime NHL veteran and former Minnesota Golden Gopher star. As a senior in high school, Meyer averaged nearly two points per game, logging 32-18-50 totals in 27 games.

Alaska also selected defenseman Matt Peterson with its lone pick in the NAHL 3HL Draft, an event that allows teams to draw from a specific pool of prospects.

Peterson played for the Granite City Lumberjacks of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League last year.

Avs acquire

defenseman

The Avs took another step towards further solidifying the blueline, acquiring defenseman Patrick Kinkopf from Wenatchee prior to the draft. Alaska parted with its remaining tender to get the 6-1, 205-pound Lake Forest Park, Wash., native.

Kinkopf tallied 1-2-3 totals and a plus-4 rating in 27 games with the Wild. Kinkopf began the 2010-11 season in Amarillo, Texas, appearing in two games with the Bulls.

Avs go DIII

Andy Pearson, a two-year veteran of the Avalanche, will play Division III hockey at Gustavus Adolphus in Saint Peter, Minn., next fall. The Burnsville, Minn., native finished his final year of junior hockey second on the Avs in scoring with 46 points (17 goals and 29 assists). He put together 19-39-58 totals and a plus-15 rating in 104 career games with the Avs.

Buzz Tryggeseth has committed to play at Division III St. John’s in Minnesota after one year with the Avalanche. The Buffalo, Minn., native collected five assists in 41 games with the Avs last season.

North American Hockey League Draft

Alaska Avalanche selections

First round

19. Trevor Gutierrez G Alaska All-Stars

Gutierrez was among the top goaltenders in Alaska last season. The South Anchorage was 18-4-3 with seven shutouts for the Wolverines. He also logged a 1.10 GAA and .933 saves percentage. Gutierrez was 17-8-1, with a 1.92 GAA and a .913 saves percentage with the Alaska All-Stars U18AAA program last season. Gutierrez could be the team’s sixth player to come from South High, joining former Avs Nathan Corey, Kyle Pichler, Robb Haider, Dylan Jones and Braden Kinnebrew.

Second round

44. Connor Hady D Fort Frances (SIJHL)

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound defenseman is a native of Hermantown, Minn. The 19-year-old produced five goals and 12 assists in 54 games with the Fort Frances Lakers of the Superior International Junior Hockey League. Hady hails from the same hometown as former Avs Ryan Schmidt and Tommy Engseth.

Third round

70. Bryan McFarlane D Madison Capitals

McFarlane — a 6-foot-2, 175-pound defenseman and native of Scottsdale, Ariz. – skated in the Madison Capitals U18AAA program last season in Madison, Wisc. McFarlane contributed three assists in 24 games during the Tier I winter league. The Capitals program has produced former Avs standouts Logan Maly and Landon Peterson.

Fourth round

94. Ryan Collins F California Stars

The 6-foot, 180-pound center tallied 26 goals and 31 assists in 69 games with the Ontario, Calif., based U18AAA team. The 17-year-old is a native of Murietta, Calif.

Sixth round

137. Codey Hansen F Drayton Valley (AJHL)

The Anchorage native posted two goals and seven assists in 42 games with the Drayton Valley Thunder of the Alberta Junior Hockey League last year. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound forward also played at Service High School and within the Alaska All-Stars program before hitting the junior ranks. Avs defenseman Chase Van Allen also played at Service before joining the team.

Seventh round

153. AJ Merritt D Sioux Lookout (SIJHL)

Merritt, a 6-foot-5 and 210-pound blueliner, is a native of Grand Rapids, Minn. In 47 games with the Sioux Lookout Flyers of the Junior A Superior International Junior Hockey League posted five goals and 11 assists. Merritt shares a hometown with former UAF mentor and current Minnesota head coach Don Lucia.

Eighth round

167. Nolan Meyer F Cloquet HS

The 6-foot, 180-pound forward averaged nearly two points per game for Cloquet High School in Cloquet, Minn., tallying 32 goals and 18 assists in 27 games. Meyer hails from the hometown of new Alaska head coach Corey Millen.

3HL draft

16. Matt Peterson D Granite City Lumberjacks

Peterson skated for the Granite City Lumberjacks of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League last year.