Avs think defense in 2008 draft

WASILLA — Rebuilding a group of defensemen who struggled as a unit throughout the 2007-08 season has been an offseason priority for the Alaska Avalanche.

And that focus didn’t change when Alaska president and general manager Jamie Smith prepared for the 2008 North American Hockey League draft.

“We felt like our weakness last year was the defensive side of the game,” Smith said on Wednesday. “We have a ton of forwards coming back — our top nine (forwards). Our focus is on defense. Draft as many as we could, and tender as many as we could.”

Alaska did just that.

The Avalanche used four of their five 2008 selections in Wednesday’s draft on defenseman, grabbing three highly skilled blueliners and a big, stay-at-home back-liner.

Alaska selected blueliners Gene Constantine, Wayne Ravdjhee, Jonathon Watanabe and David Picard with its picks in the first, second, fourth and fifth rounds.

The Avs selected forward Rudi Pino in the third round.

“I’m very happy with how we did actually,” Smith said. “We were looking for skilled defenseman who can move the puck, and get on the offensive end of things a little bit.”

Alaska’s first selection, Constantine, skated for Russell Stover, a midget major program based in Overland Park, Kan. Constantine posted eight goals, 18 assists and a team-high 145 penalty minutes for the Midwest Elite League team.

Ravdjhee, a 6-foot and 156-pound blueliner, skated for the LA Selects AAA squad.

Watanabe (5-11, 170) played for the Culver Military Academy in Culver, Ind.

Picard, a native of Anchorage, is a former East Anchorage standout.

Pino, the lone forward selected by Alaska in the draft, scored a combined 35 goals and 31 assists during stints with both Helena and River City in the Northern Pacific Hockey League last year.

Smith called Constantine and Ravdjhee, “unbelievable athletes.”

“We need better athletes on the back end,” Smith said. “That’s what we went after.”

While the Avs snagged Constantine and Ravdjhee for their speed and skill, Alaska likes the size and strength Picard brings.

Alaska also tendered another blueliner, Logan Maly, before the draft. Maly captained the Madison Capitals, a U-18 AAA team in Madison, Wisc., last season.

Smith said Maly is another “unbelievable athlete” who was four-time prep football letterman. Smith also said the 5-10 and 200-pound blueliner has a bench press of 300 pounds and squats 500 pounds.

The NAHL conducted the draft via conference call with Kenai River making the draft’s first selection at 10 a.m. AST. Amateur players, less than 21 years old, who are not currently affiliated with NAHL teams can be chosen.

The number of draft choices each team has depends on the number of open roster spots. Team’s can have a maximum of 30 players on the roster until Aug. 25. At that time rosters must be reduced to 25.

Alaska acquires rights to Anchorage forward

Smith capped his draft day moves by acquiring Anchorage native Kyle Bailey from the Mahoning Valley Phantoms for two draft choices and a 2009 tender.

“It kind of came out of the blue,” Smith said of the deal.

Smith said Mahoning Valley contacted the Avs about the potential of putting together a deal for the forward who has also skated in the United States Hockey League.

“He’s a top-end player,” Smith said.

Bailey, a 6-1 and 180-pound forward, posted nine goals and 15 assists in 29 games for the Phantoms. He also had a regular-season plus-minus rating of +18.

In 12 playoff games, Bailey recorded nine goals and nine assists for the NAHL Robertson Cup runners-up.

During the 2006-07 season, Bailey scored 15 goals and 16 assists for Des Moines of the USHL.

In another deal, Alaska sent defenseman Thomas Wees to Wenatchee for a 2009 tender.

Alaska had tendered Wees earlier this season. Wenatchee will make its NAHL franchise debut in September.

League loses pair of teams for 2008-09 season

The Fargo-Moorhead Jets will cease operations, according to a press release issued by the NAHL on Monday.

Earlier this month, the Texas Tornado announced the franchise will skip the 2008-09 season because ongoing renovations of the team’s home facility, The Jets have won two division titles since the team was added to the NAHL in 2003.

According to NAHL.com, players on the rosters and protected lists for both teams were eligible to be taken in the 2008 draft.

2008 NAHL draft results

Alaska Avalanche

Gene Constantine, US, D, Russell Stover Midget Major; David Picard, US, D, East High School; Rudy Pino, US, F, Helena Bighorns (NORPAC); Wayne Ravdjhee, US, D, LA Selects; Jonathan Watanabe, US, D, Culver Military Academy.

Albert Lea Thunder

John Affolter, US, F, Peoria Mustangs (CSHL); Ted Berhend, US, D, Oregon High School; Alex Cantor, US, F, Phoenix Polar Bears (WSHL); Chris Cass, US, F, Lakeville High School; Matt Gates, US, F, Chicago Mission Midget Major; Cody Healy, US, D, New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (EJHL); Mitch Koralewski, US, F, Victory Honda Midget Major; Jeremy Langlois, US, F, Phoenix Polar Bears (WSHL); Jeff Lesmeister, US, D, Anoka High School; Landon Olson, US, D, Duluth Marshall High School; Grant Pavek, US, F, Fairbault High School; Nick Thielen, US, F, Moorhead High School; Justin Thomas, US, D, Vernon Vipers (BCHL); Mitch Torrell, US, F, Russell Stover Midget Major; Dan Wood, US, F, Valley Jr. Warriors (EJHL)

Alexandria Blizzard

Taylor Boldt, US, D, P.F. Chang's Midget Major; Corbin Brown, US, F, P.F. Chang's Midget Major; Nick Carey, US, F, St. Louis Jr. Blues Midget Major; Joe Knoepke, US, F, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL); Josh Munford, US, F, Soo Indians Midget Major; Ben Nelson, US, F, Roseau High School; Joel Scattarelli, US, D, Rogers High School; Jacob Walsh, US, D, Spokane Braves (KJHL)

Alpena IceDiggers

Sam Cheraso, US, F, Cleveland Barons Midget Major; Scott Everline, US, D, Toledo Cherokee (CSHL); Tim Hohl, US, F, Northville High School; Jake Kay, US, D, Belle Tire Midget Major; Stephen, Lalli Canada, F, Vancouver Spirit AAA; Nick Mellidan, US, F, Buffalo Regals Midget Major; Jordan Miller, US, F, Belle Tire Midget Major.

Bismarck Bobcats

Brian Dunne, US, F, Chicago Fury; Brian Kozlowski, US, F, Victory Honda Midget Major; Joel Lundstrom, US, F, Bay State Breakers (EJHL).

Fairbanks Ice Dogs

Alan Armour, US, G, Selkirk Steelers (MJHL); Loren Barron, US, D, Valley Jr. Warriors (EJHL); Cody Holzworth, US, F, Peoria Mustangs (CSHL); Luke Johnson, US, D, Weyburn Red Wings (SJHL); Michael Juola, US, F, Westside Warriors (BCHL); Joseph Krause, US, F, Hermantown High School; Brandon Martell, US, D, Tri-City Storm (USHL); Matt Millis, US, F, Black River Falls High School; Chris Wilcox, US, D, Valley Jr. Warriors (EJHL).

Kenai River Brown Bears

Erick Anderson, US, F, LA Selects; Jimmy Bascara, US, D, LA Jr. Kings; Brad Fusaro, US, F, Peninula Panthers; Scott Henegar, US, F, Trenton High School; Radoslav Illo, Slovakia, F, Hampton Roads Whalers; Brandyn Kaufman, US, F, Helena Bighorns (NORPAC); Casey Kirley, US, F, Hayward High School; Rodney Lalonde, US, D, Belle Tire Midget Major; Doug Lindensmith, US, F, Toledo Cherokee (CSHL); Justin Scott, US, F, Soo Indians Midget Major; Dan Shilts, US, F, New Richmond High School.

Mahoning Valley Phantoms

Nate Brown, US, D, Team NXI Major Midget; David Chaney, US, D, Belle Tire Midget Major; Grant Dettinger, US, D, Cleveland Barons Midget Major; Cody Ganchar, US, F, Phantom Fireworks Midget Major; Michael Gunn, US, D, Compuware Midget Minor; Michael Pateras, US, F, Pittsburgh Hornets Midget Major; Trevor Shively, US, D, Phantom Fireworks Midget Major.

Marquette Rangers

Austin Accettura, US, D, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL); Kevin Albers, US, D, Belle Tire Midget Major; Kevin Gravel, US, D, Marquette Electricians Midget Major; Kevin Kissaw, US, G, Belle Tire Midget Major; Rick Litchfield, US, F, Mankato West High School.

Motor City Machine

Jeff Anonick, US, F, Lake Forest College; Kevin Bechard, US, F, Belle Tire Midget Major; Dominick Chiappelli, US, F, Petrolia Jets (GOJHL); Mike Yonish, US, F, USA Eagles Midget AA; Jared Williams, US, F, Syracuse Stars (EJHL).

North Iowa Outlaws

Robbie Anderegg, US, D, Chicago Mission Midget Major; Travis Baker, US, F, Irondale High School; Alex Charee, US, D, Lindsay Muskies (OPJHL); Justin Cseter, US, F, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets (USHL); Jacob Desano, US, D, Metro Jets (CSHL); Dan Durham, US, F, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets (USHL); Rob Johnson, US, F, Duluth East High School; Dustin Moser, US, F, Roseau High School; Ryan Peltoma, US, D, Tri-City Storm (USHL); TJ Poganski, US, D, St. Cloud Cathedral High School; Brendan Sheehan, US, F, Bay State Breakers (EJHL); Chris Walker, US, D, Phoenix Polar Bears (WSHL).

Owatonna

Stephen Carew, US, F, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL); Dan Cecka, US, F, Hill Murray High School; Fredrik Csisar, Norway, F, Team Illinois Midget Major; Carson Curran, US, D, Flint Powers Catholic High School; Marian Fiala, Slovakia, D, Team Illinois Midget Major; Anthony Hayes, US, F, Green Bay Gambers (USHL); Tom Glomski, US, F, Texas Attack Midget Major; Justin Lee, US, D, Texas Tornado (NAHL); Thomas McCarthy, US, D, Benilde-St. Margret's High School; Dylan Porter, US, F, Rosemount High School; Adam Schmidt, US, F, Valley Forge Midget Major; Jake Sloat, US, D, Omaha Lancers (USHL); Tim Smith, US, D, Superior High School; Cam Stowers, US, F, Russell Stover Midget Major; Zach Vierling, US, F, Coon Rapids High School; Mac Williams, US, D, Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep; Scott Winkler, Norway/Canada, F, Russell Stover Midget Major.

Springfield Jr. Blues

Justin Filzen, US, F, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL); Jarrett Galbreath, US, D, Red River High School; Erik Hansen, US, F, Minnetonka High School; Tom Janosz, US, D, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets (USHL); Brandon Lowndes, US, D, Yarmouth Mariners (MJHL); Andy Taranto, US, F, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets (USHL).

St. Louis Bandits

William Balent Jr., US, F, Orchard Lakes-St. Mary's High School; Brooks Bertsch, US, F, Madison Capitals Midget Major; Adam Brown, US, G, Dallas Stars Midget Major; Chris Ciotti, US, F, Gilmore Prep; Nick Dowd, US, F, Culver Military Academy; Anthony Hamburg, US, D, Dallas Stars Midget Major; Chad Hudson, US, F, Dallas Stars Midget Major; Keith Kinkaid, US, G, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL); Craig Kitto, US, F, Washington Jr. Nationals (AJHL); Cullen Lundholm, US, D, Des Moines Bucanners (USHL); John McInnis, US, F, Lawrence Academy; Kris Reinthaler, Austria, D, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL); Chris Saracino, US, D, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL).

Topeka RoadRunners

Clarence Mulligan, IV, US, F, Russell Stover Midget Major.

Traverse City North Stars

Jared Beers, US, D, Honeybaked Midget Major; Mitch Kriz, US, D, Elliot Lake Bobcats; Tyler Krueger, US, D, Madison Capitals Midget Major; Mike Miller, US, D, Honeybaked Midget Major; Cody Walsh, US, D, Chicago Young Americans Midget Major.

Wenatchee Wild

Ryan Anderson, US, F, Mankato West High School; Joe Becker, US, F, Moorhead High School; Brandon Burrell, US, D, North Metro High School; Mathieu Dagus, Canada, G, Restigouche (MJHL); Jake Flynn, US, F, Texas Attack Midget Major; Steffan Hansen, US, F, Blaine High School; Ben Hughes, US, D, Team Illinois Midget Major; William McClellan, US, F, Russell Stover; Charlie Mullan, US, F, Concord High School; Rickard Palmberg, Sweden, F, Linkopings HC U20; Chad Ruhwedel, US, D, LA Jr. Kings; Cameron Severson, US, F, Gilmore Prep; Nick Schaefer, US, F, Red River High School; Berkley Scott, US, F, Anoka High School; Dalton Speelman, US, F, San Jose Jr. Sharks Midget Major.

Wichita Falls Wildcats

Kyle Beattie, US, F, P.F. Chang's Midget Major; Justin Castagna, US, F, LA Selects; Grant Dixon, US, F, Lancing Capitals Midget Major; Taylor Mouser, US, D, P.F. Chang's Midget Major.