Avs to host first home game in 2 months

WASILLA — On Wednesday, the Alaska Avalanche will be able to do something they haven’t done in almost two months — host a game on their own sheet of ice.

“It’s definitely nice for them, no doubt about it,” Alaska general manager and head coach Jamie Smith said on Monday, as the Avs prepare for their game against the Topeka RoadRunners, which is slated to start at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Alaska’s first game since a 5-3 win over Kenai River on Dec. 22 will also finally mark the end of a torturous 11-game road trip in which the Avalanche finished 1-10-0.

As the Avs got deeper into the trip — a stretch that included 26 consecutive days in the southern half of the United States — things became much more difficult for the squad.

“The guys were fatigued, sick, hurt and on the road the whole time,” Smith said. “It’s tough.”

Especially tough for a very young team that now includes only four players who are in their final year of junior hockey. Without a ton of veterans, the vast majority of the Avalanche players were experiencing the trials of a long and unsuccessful road trip for the first time.

Alaska also got a little younger since the last time the Avs hit the Menard Memorial Arena ice. During the last six weeks the Avs traded veterans Larry Kincaid, Kevin Anger, Dustin Skinner and Kent Detlefsen to bring more young talent to the Mat-Su Valley and keep building for the future.

Forward Kyle Politz, an 18-year-old, acquired in the deal that sent Kincaid and Anger to North Iowa, has skated in seven games for Alaska.

Last week, Alaska received forward Tyler Tosunian, forward Pat Coclough and defenseman Bill Colclough from Wichita Falls for Detlefsen.

Alaska has also signed Wisconsin native Andy Schroeder and Minnesota native K.C. Kranz since the Avs last played in the Valley.

Smith said the change in personnel won’t necessarily call for a change in game plan. The key, Smith said, it just implementing the game plan that’s already in effect.

On Wednesday, Alaska will face a Topeka squad that has won eight of its last nine, and is shooting up the North American Hockey League South Division standings.

The RoadRunners swept at two-game series at Fairbanks last week, beating the Ice Dogs 6-1 and 2-1, and beat Fairbanks twice in Kansas two weeks ago.

Topeka also swept a three-game series against Kenai River and beat the Avs twice, the final two games of Alaska’s horrid road trip.

“They’re on a tear,” Smith said.

Smith said a key for the Avs on Wednesday will be applying a lot of pressure on the RoadRunners blueliners.

Topeka is a very skilled team, Smith said, and the Avs will have to be aggressive.

With Detlefsen gone, Wasilla native Jeremiah Dargis now stands as the team’s leading scorer with 31 points (14 goals, 17 assists) in 37 games.

Alex Young, who had eight points during the road trip, is second on the squad with 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists).

Smith said Young in particular has been a bright spot on the team.

“He’s played very well,” Smith said. “He was very good the entire trip.”

Following its match against Topeka, the Avs host Fairbanks on Friday and Saturday.

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