Avs forward honored by league

PALMER — Alaska head coach Brian Huebel knows when Matthew Friese plays a certain way, it’s tough to stop the Avalanche forward.

During Alaska’s three-game series in Fairbanks last weekend, the Ice Dogs had a tough time stopping Friese. The former Wasilla High standout netted five points in three games and has been named the North American Hockey League West Division Player of the Week.

“He’s the type of player, he needs to play with energy,” Huebel said after the weekly honors were released by the league Monday. “He’s strong and he’s fast, and he needs to play that way.”

Friese bagged an assist during Alaska’s 6-4 win last Thursday and accounted for his team’s lone goal during a 5-1 loss the following night. On Saturday, Friese helped spark an Avalanche comeback with two goals and an assist in a 5-3 win over the Ice Dogs.

“What I liked about him most, when he was on the ice, he was having an impact on the game,” Huebel said.

Friese was also a plus-3 during the series with 16 shots.

In 122 career games with the Avalanche, Friese has collected 46 goals and 46 assists. He started the 2010-11 season in the United States Hockey League, but since his return to the Avs, Friese has logged 23-18-41 totals in 32 games, production Huebel expected out of Friese.

“Matty is definitely an over-a-point-a-game guy,” Huebel said. “He’ll be that type of guy anywhere.”

Alaska forward Andy Pearson was named an honorable mention for player of the week honors.

Pearson also had a big weekend, finishing with two goals, two assists and a plus-3 rating in three games.

“I thought he was really big this weekend,” Huebel said.

Pearson may not have the highest profile of the Avs, but has been among the most consistent. Pearson tallied 17-29-46 totals with a plus-13 rating, and was one of only two players to see action in all 58 games this season.

“Andy doesn’t get the recognition he deserves,” Huebel said. “Every day I don’t have to worry about Andy. I feel bad I don’t have to talk to him, but that’s not always a bad thing.”

Former Avalanche forward Nardo Nagtzaam was also honored by the league, winning player of the week honors for the Central Division. The Mercyhurst College recruit finished with 2-5-7 totals as he helped the Alexandria Blizzard score three wins.

Avs set records

The 2010-11 regular season is complete and a handful of Avs have set franchise season and career records this year.

Third-year forward and team captain Zach Smith is now the team’s career leading scorer with 116 points. Smith is also the franchise career leader in goals (66), power-play goals (17) and penalty minutes (574).

Last season, Smith set the record for goals (30), points (48) and penalty minutes (228) in a season.

Defenseman Jake Williams set records for career assists (64), career power-play assists (27), and assists in a season (42) and power-play assists in a season (19).

Friese used his season-record eight game-winning goals this year to set the franchise record with 10. Friese scored the game-winner in 25 percent of the 32 games he played with the Avs this season.

In goal, Landon Peterson set career marks for games played (76), wins (37) and saves (2,035).

Peterson also set records for games played (45), goals against average (2.74) and wins (24).

As a team, the Avs tied a franchise mark for wins with 32, equaling their total from last year. The Avs set records for power-play percentage (17.58), shorthanded goals (15) and goals against average (2.98).

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.