Avs skating at full strength

Jan. 12, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - The holiday season is over, but Keith Morris and the Alaska Avalanche received one more Christmas present this week - the return of Brad McCabe to the ice.

After missing the last two months to a knee injury, McCabe is back with the Avalanche.

Tonight, McCabe will be in the lineup as the Avs host the North Iowa Outlaws at 7:30 p.m. at the Menard Memorial Ice Arena.

Morris, the coach and general manager of the Avalanche, is obviously excited about the idea of getting the squad's leading goal-scorer back in action.

&#8220This is as huge as you get,” Morris said Thursday.

McCabe skated in just 16 games before suffering an injury to the mediolateral ligament in his knee during a 3-2 win over the Texas Tornado on Nov. 3. But if his play during that stretch is any indication, McCabe will be the gift that keeps on giving.

McCabe averaged a point per game, posting 11 goals and five assists. He scored five times on the power play, and added a shorthanded tally.

Despite missing the last 20 games, McCabe still has a share of the team's goal-scoring lead. Fellow forward Victor Nordenson has also scored 11 times.

With the return of McCabe, combined with the play of forwards such as Nordenson (11 goals, 11 assists, 22 points), Krystian Dziubinski (7-9-16) and Richard Leitner (7-10-17), the Avs could potentially field their most potent offensive attack of the season.

&#8220This gives us two lines with the ability to score,” Morris said.

Morris feels his team now has the opportunity to implement some different things up front.

&#8220We need to be ultra aggressive,” Morris said. &#8220get after it.”

The new year not only brought the return of McCabe to the ice, but big defenseman Clay Kasten is also back.

Kasten, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound blueliner, played in just 10 games before he was knocked out of the lineup. Morris sees Kasten has a big and physical defenseman who can, &#8220really shoot the puck.”

Forward Johnny Spellman, another Alaska player bit by the injury bug, is expected to be back on the ice in just a few days.

With the return of these players, the Avalanche squad is as healthy as its been since Morris was named the team's general manager in early

November.

&#8220We're finally starting to get to a point where we're healthy for a series,” Morris said.

Tonight's contest will also mark the debut of a pair of defenseman.

Tyler Elbrecht and Alex North were acquired in a pair of trades earlier this month. Alaska sent former captain Jeff Dimmen to St. Louis for Elbrecht and forward Shawn Skelly. Morris promptly sent Skelly to Bismarck in exchange for North.

North and Elbrecht bring a few different attributes to the squad. North is a world class skater, Morris said, who can really push the puck up the ice.

Morris said Elbrecht, a big lanky blueliner, is a defensman in the mold of NHL All-Star Chris Pronger.

Kasten, Elbrecht and North are expected to provide an immediate help to a crew of defenseman who were incredibly taxed during the late stretch of the first half of the season.

North Iowa (14-20-2) hits Wasilla following three losses to the Ice Dogs in Fairbanks last week.

The Outlaws are led by forward Max Mobley (13-20-33), forward Steve McLeod (11-18-29) and defenseman Matt Morrin (5-18-23).

Goaltender Jay Clark (3.18 goals against average, .895 saves percentage) has committed to play for Division I Army next year.

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