Avs ready to open season

PALMER — Last season, the Alaska Avalanche owned the Kenai River Brown Bears.

Alaska scored five or more goals 12 times during the 18-game season series and posted at least seven goals a half-dozen times. Kenai River also only managed two goals or fewer in 12 games. With that success, the Avs had a stranglehold on the Brownies throughout the 2009-10 season, finishing with mind-boggling 16-1-1 record against Kenai River.

But as the Avs prepare for their season-opener against the Brown Bears tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Palmer Ice Arena, first-year head coach Brian Huebel knows his players can’t rest on their laurels.

“The big thing is last year is last year,” Huebel said earlier this week. “It’s a whole new year.”

Kenai River, which spent virtually all of the 2009-10 season in North American Hockey League West Division cellar, features a revamped roster. The team features 10 Alaska players, including former Wasilla High School standout Trent Wohlers. The Bears also have a pair of regarded imports from Sweden, defenseman Erik Persson and goalie Mathias Dahlstrom.

“They’re going to be better than they were last year. I’m pretty confident about that,” Huebel said. “We’re expecting nothing short of a dogfight.”

The Avs, who set franchise records with 32 wins and 71 total points last year, will host a pair of games against the Bears this weekend. The teams also meet Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Subway Sports Center in Anchorage.

Alaska returns nine players from last season, including its leading scorer, forward Zach Smith. The Anchorage native posted career highs in points (48), goals (30) and assists (18) during his second season with the squad. Smith finished third in the NAHL in goals and was second in the league with 228 penalty minutes.

Defenseman Jake Williams (5-22-27) and goaltender Landon Peterson (2.94 goals against average) also return.

Peterson spent much of the season among the league’s top goalies on the leader board. The Oregon, Wisc., native posted a 13-9-5 record, and led the Avs with a .911 saves percentage.

Forwards Andy Pearson, Seth Johnson, Tyler Schwartz, Jake Barber and Blake Huppert, and defenseman Chase Van Allen also return.

The Alaska coaching staff was also able to lure standouts at both forward and defense to the Valley. Top-line forwards Wehebe Darge and Derek Whitehill, and defensemen Tyler Briola and Joe Schmitz are among the Avs’ top additions during the offseason.

Whitehill posted 7-13-20 totals during 45 games with the Winnipeg Saints of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League last year. Darge made the trip to Alaska from Adelaide, South Australia, where he led the Adelaide Adrenaline to the Australian Ice Hockey League title game.

Briola and Schmitz are junior hockey veterans. Briola skated for the NAHL’s Wichita Falls Wildcats last year. Schmitz spent time in both the NAHL and the Tier I United States Hockey League.

Following the Kenai series, the Avs will head to Blaine, Minn., for the NAHL Showcase tournament. Alaska opens tourney play Wednesday against the Aberdeen Wings.

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