Avs fall to Ice Dogs for fifth time

Dec. 5, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Avalanche are getting tired of hearing the name Kyle Schmidt.

The Fairbanks forward posted a hat trick and led the Ice Dogs to a 5-3 win over the Avalanche at the Big Dipper Ice Arena in Fairbanks on Sunday.

Schmidt now has eight goals and four assists against the Avalanche this season, and has registered at least a point in each of his club's six meetings against Alaska.

&#8220The guy's an absolute gamer,” Alaska coach and general manager Keith Morris said. &#8220He's certainly going to be a Division I player.”

Schmidt scored on the power play midway through the second period to cut into an early Alaska lead.

In the third, Schmidt posted the eventual game-winner. It was one of two goals the Hermantown, Minn., native scored in the final four minutes of regulation. He added an empty netter with 59 seconds left to ice the victory for the Dogs.

Schmidt has enjoyed tremendous success against the Valley-based franchise this year, but Alaska is not the only squad he is attacking. Schmidt's assault on the Avalanche has paralleled his play against the remainder of the North American Hockey League. He currently leads the NAHL with 25 goals, six more than anyone else in the 17-team league.

Schmidt's linemate Joe Shean added a goal and two assists in the game. He now has two goals and nine assists against Alaska this season, and 20 points in two years against the Valley franchise.

Alaska earned a 2-0 lead in the game, scoring on a pair of power play goals. The Avs powered ahead of Fairbanks late in the first period when Travis Stevens scored with the man advantage. Defenseman Brandon Graffunder scored his team-high sixth power-play goal four minutes into the second period.

Morris said puck movement was key as the Avalanche built a lead by converting two of their first four power-play opportunities.

&#8220The kids were moving it around really well,” Morris said.

Alaska out-shoot the Dogs in the first period.

While Alaska used it's power play to build the lead, Fairbanks used its success with the extra skater to tie the contest.

Schmidt and Jonas Hoog each scored power-play goals for the Ice Dogs in the second period to tie the game at 2-2.

Krystian Dziubisnki gave the Avs the temporary 3-2 lead with a goal 14-minutes into the final period. But Fairbanks was able to do critical damage in the final five minutes of the frame.

&#8220The kids played very hard for two periods, but looked like they ran out of gas in the third,” Morris said. &#8220It's one of those deals. The ball started rolling, and the snowball got bigger and bigger.”

Alaska goaltender Adam Kraus posted yet another 30-plus save performance, stopping 37 shots in the loss.

Alaska dropped to 10-15-3, and missed the opportunity to move out of last place in the South Division. The Avs remain a point behind fifth-place Wichita Falls (11-12-2). Fairbanks, winners of six of its last eight, continue to climb the South Division ladder. The Ice Dogs (13-15-1) are in fourth place.

The work does not get any easier for Alaska. After having just one day off, the Avs begin a two-game series against Texas, the winners of the last three NAHL titles.

Alaska hosts the Texas Tornado tonight and Wednesday at the Menard Arena. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. each night. The teams will also meet Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Menard Arena.