Former Avs blueliner gets his shot with pro team

Former Alaska Avalanche and University of Maine defenseman Jeff Dimmen has agreed to an amateur tryout with the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League.

Dimmen, who skated in the Valley during 2005-06 and part of the 2006-07 season, is believed to be the first former Avalanche player to sign with a professional team. In four games with the Pirates, Dimmen has an assist and a minus-2 rating for the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabers.

In 61 career games with the Valley franchise, Dimmen posted four goals and 35 assists in 61 career games. In his first season with the Valley franchise, he posted 2-20-22 totals and 148 penalty minutes in 40 games with the Wasilla Spirit. The following year, Dimmen recorded 2-15-17 totals in 21 games before he was traded to the St. Louis Bandits.

Dimmen was named All-NAHL with the Bandits and helped St. Louis win a Robertson Cup in 2007. At Maine, Dimmen was a two-year assistant captain and was named second-team All-Hockey as a junior.

In 135 career games for the Division I program, Dimmen tallied 27-40-67 totals. He posted career highs in goals (12), assists (18) and points (30) as a junior.

— Jeremiah Bartz