Former Avalanche forward, Houston High standout scores first college goal

WASILLA — Larry Kincaid knows how to make an entrance.

The former Houston High School standout skated for three North American Hockey League programs last season, and each time Kincaid joined a new club, he posted at least a point in his debut.

He recorded an assist during the first game of the 2007-08 season as a member of the Alaska Avalanche. He notched a goal in his first game with the North Iowa Outlaws. And when he moved on to play in Alexandria, he scored twice in his debut with the Blizzard.

Now at the college level, Kincaid is up to the same thing.

Kincaid, a freshman at Division III University of Wiconsin-Eau Claire, picked up his first collegiate goal during a 4-1 win over the St. Scholastica Saints at the Hobbs Ice Center in Eau Claire, Wisc., last week.

“I just got lucky I guess,” Kincaid said with a laugh by phone from Eau Claire late last week. “The first game in, and I got that off my shoulders.”

Kincaid gave his new team the 2-0 lead with an even strength tally early in the third period. Kincaid said Eau Claire defenseman John Kearns shot the puck in from the point and he was there to knock in the rebound.

“I crashed the net and found myself with the deflection,” Kincaid said. “It was really exciting.”

Kincaid’s first collegiate goal was reminiscent of the types of scores the Houston product has been posting since he helped lead the Hawks to state titles during his high school days. The front-liner, who seems to be best fit in the mold of the grinding power forward with the ability to add a bit of scoring, skated at two different levels of junior hockey after capping his career at Houston High.

After skating for the Peoria Mustangs of the Junior B Central States Junior Hockey League during the spring following his senior year of high school, Kincaid singed with his hometown Alaska Avalanche.

In 77 games with the Avs, Kincaid posted 14 goals, eight assists and 159 penalty minutes.

After a short stint at North Iowa, where he recorded a goal and an assist in six games, Kincaid had a nice run with Alexandria at the end of the 2007-08 season, his final year of junior hockey.

In 19 regular season games, he averaged nearly a point per contest with 11 goals and four assists. He also scored two goals in 12 playoff games and helped Alexandria advance to the NAHL Robertson Cup.

Kincaid said the transition to the college game has gone well.

“There’s a lot more hitting. I fit in well here,” Kincaid said. “It’s a rough game in college. Everyone’s wearing full cages.”

Obviously the speed of the game is something junior players have to adapt too.

“There’s not a lot of time to do the fancy stuff,” Kincaid said.

Kincaid is one of two former Alaska players on the Eau Claire roster. Former assistant captain Michael McCurtain is a freshman forward with the Blugolds.

McCurtain posted five goals and four assists in 41 games with the Avs last season.

It’s long been a goal of Kincaid’s to play college hockey and after his final year of juniors, Kincaid said Wisconsin Eau Claire was the school for him.

“This is the place I wanted to be,” Kincaid said.

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

Alaska to the college ranks

Air Force

Junior goalie Andrew Volkening is a perfect 6-0-0 for the Air Force Academy. Volkening, who backstopped the Wasilla Spirit during the 2005-06 campaign, has a 1.49 goals against average and .931 saves percentage.

Alaska Anchorage

Dusan Sidor is a freshman at UAA. Alaska’s top goaltender during the 2007-08 season has not appeared in UAA’s first seven games. Sidor was 12-20-2 with a 4.47 goals against average and .895 saves percentage last season.

Bentley College

Brandon Graffunder is a sophomore defenseman at Division I Bentley College. Graffunder recorded five assists in 32 games as a freshman.

Boston University

Adam Kraus is a sophomore goaltender at Boston University. Alaska’s top netminder during the 2006-07 season finished 1-1-0 in two starts as a freshman. Kraus has not appeared in Boston’s first five games this season.

Concordia (Minn.)

Sean Ranum is a freshman forward at Concordia University. The Houston High School product had a goal and eight assists in 48 games for the Avs last season.

Maine

Jeff Dimmen is a sophomore defenseman at Division I Maine. As a freshman, Dimmen led all freshman with 31 games played, and posted six points (2-4-6). He has eight penalty minutes in Maine’s first five games this season.

Manhattanville

Victor Nordenson is a sophomore forward at Manhattanville (NY). Alaska’s leading scorer in 2006-07 (20-23-43) had a goal and an assist in nine games last year.

St. Mary’s

Five former members of the franchise are now skating for St. Mary’s (Minn). Anchorage native and former Wasilla Spirit forward Steve Murphy is now a junior. Eric Dahl, who also played for the Spirit, is also a junior forward. Trevor Tolibas, a two-year member of the organization, is a sophomore forward. Forward Mike Glaesmer, a member of the 200-05-06 squad is a sophomore. Glaesmer scored 26 points (15-11-26) in 25 games. Alex North is a freshman defenseman. Murphy has scored St. Mary’s only goal so far this season.

St. Michael’s

Tully LaBelle-Hamer is a sophomore defenseman at St. Michael’s. The assistant captain on the 2006-07 squad and former Monroe Catholic skater scored a goal and two assists as a freshman.

Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Reed Lally, a member of the 2005-06 Wasilla Spirit squad is a junior at Division III Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Lally who posted eight points (2-6-8) for the Spirit, had three assists in 10 games as a sophomore.

Wisconsin-Stout

Andy Sternberg, a member of the 2005-06 Wasilla Spirit squad, is a junior forward at Division III UW-Stout. Sternberg scored 17 points (7-10-17) in 29 games. He has an assist in two games this year.

Wisconsin-Superior

A pair of former Alaska skaters are now at Wisconsin-Superior. Kent Detlefson is a freshman defenseman and Ryan Schmidt is a freshman forward. Both played for the Avs during the 2007-08 season.

Detlefson had 34 points (17-17-34) in 33 games last year with Alaska, while Schmidt notched seven points (2-5-7) in 43 games.

Detlefson has one point in three games for the 2-1-0 Yellowjackets. Schmidt has yet to make his debut. UWS is also the home of former Colony High School standout Seth Reda, who is a senior forward. Reda scored three goals and three assists as a junior.