Avs sport size, depth on defense

PALMER — Last season, a conversation about the Alaska Avalanche defensemen could not be had without a mention of Jake Parenteau.

The blueliner led the North American Hockey League in scoring among defensemen with 47 points. He posted a team-high +27 rating and collected 10 goals and 13 assists on the Avalanche power play en route to earning All-NAHL honors. But after recording the best season by a defenseman in the history of the franchise, Parenteau is off to the University of Minnesota and will skate for the Golden Gophers this fall.

Parenteau is among five defensemen the Avs lost following the 2009-10 season. But despite those losses, first-year head coach Brian Huebel is thrilled about what the Avs have on the back line this season.

“I like our D-corps as a whole a little bit better this year,” Huebel said on Monday. “There’s a little more depth back there.”

Yes, the Avs will miss the point production of Parenteau (16 goals, 31 assists) and the overall toughness of former captain Logan Maly (5-13-18), but Huebel likes the pieces the Avs have to work with this season.

Regardless of turnover, team philosophies won’t change much, he said.

“We’re definitely not going to change the way we play,” Huebel said. “We’ve got to be gritty. We want our defensemen playing a simple game; make that first outlet pass and shut guys down in the D-zone.”

Jake Williams and Chase Van Allen have returned for another season with the Avs, and Huebel said both will be among the Avs’ leaders on defense. Since Parenteau left for the Division I level, Huebel has said his team’s scoring on defense will have to come by committee. Williams and Van Allen will be the first two back-liners to be looked at for scoring production.

Williams tallied 5-22-27 totals during his first junior season and earned a spot in the NAHL Top Prospects showcase. Van Allen, a former Service High player, posted a pair of goals and five assists.

The Avs’ rebuilt defense will also include three other junior hockey veterans — Tyler Briola, Joe Schmitz and Alex Doig.

Briola collected 1-5-6 totals in 28 games with the NAHL’s Wichita Falls Wildcats last season. Schmitz saw time in both the NAHL and Tier I United States Hockey League. Both bring size to the Avs back line. Briola is 6-foot-1 and Schmitz stands at 6-3.

“Those two big boys could be a force down there,” Huebel said.

Doig, recently acquired through a trade with Fairbanks, recorded six points and was a +6 in 31 games with the Ice Dogs last year.

The Avs also have Buzz Tryggeseth (6-0), Nick McLain (6-3) and Casey Nelson (5-11) who are making the jump from high school hockey to juniors.

“We’re hoping some of the young guys step up too,” Huebel said.

Tryggeseth was Alaska’s top pick in the 2010 NAHL draft.

The Avs drop the puck on the 2010-11 season against the Kenai River Brown Bears Friday at 7 p.m. at the Palmer Ice Arena. For more of the season preview stories, see the Friday edition of the Frontiersman.

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