Avs recruit forwards

WASILLA — Alaska Avalanche first-year assistant coach Brian Huebel won’t officially call Wasilla home until late this summer, but in the meantime, the Wisconsin native is taking advantage of his final few months in the Midwest.

The new assistant has helped Alaska land a trio of prospects from Minnesota and another from Wisconsin.

Zach May, Andy Pearson, Colton Warner and Parker Tomczyk have all been tendered offers for the 2009-10 North American Hockey League season, Huebel said last week.

May and Pearson both hail from Burnsville, Minn., and each capped their careers as two of the most prolific scorers in the history of Burnsville hockey.

May, a 5-foot-9 and 160-pound forward, posted 29 goals and 43 assists, and ended his career as Burnsville’s all-time leading scorer.

Pearson, a 5-10 and 170-pound forward, recorded 23 goals and 38 assists as a senior.

“Those are huge numbers,” Huebel said. “That’s 133 between those two kids. Those are big numbers no matter who you’re playing.”

Alaska head coach Dave Boitz said he sees Pearson as a two-way forward who can win battles in the corner, and May as the high-energy goal-scorer.

Led by May and Pearson, Burnsville finished 13-10-2 in Minnesota’s Lake Conference.

Huebel found another standout in the Lake Conference, Apple Valley senior Colton Warner.

The 6-2, 220-pound forward led his team with 17 goals and nine assists in 27 games. Huebel expects Warner to bring a physical presence to the Avalanche.

“The style he plays, he’s going to be a force,” Huebel said.

Huebel also found Mosinee (Wisc.) High School senior Parker Tomczyk, who was named honorable mention all-state after posting 25 goals and 25 assists as a senior.

“He’s a bulldozer type kid,” Huebel said. “He plays with a lot of energy.”

Boitz said the Avs can tender eight players before the 2009 NAHL draft, which is scheduled for May 20 at 10 a.m. AST, and there are certainly needs that need to be filled

“We’re looking for a goalie for sure,” Boitz said. “Maybe a high-end defenseman or two.”

Wenatchee moves on

WENATCHEE, Wash. — The Wenatchee Wild used a 3-2 overtime win over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Friday to win the second-round playoff series and move on to the NAHL Robertson Cup championship tournament.

The Wild won the best-of-5 series 3-1 and are slated to face North Iowa during the first day of Robertson Cup play today.

Mahoning Valley, Bismarck and two-time defending Robertson Cup champion St. Louis also advanced to the tourney.

The 2008-09 NAHL champion will be crowned on Saturday in Mason City, Iowa.

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