Former Avs commit to DIII program

PALMER — As the new owners of the team formerly known as the Alaska Avalanche release news about the future of the Tier II North American Hockey League Junior A hockey franchise, three former Avalanche players now know where they will be playing hockey in the future.

Forwards Wehebe Darge and Kevin Novakovich and defenseman Patrick Kinkopf have committed to Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn., and will play for the Division III Pipers, Josh Petrich said Wednesday.

“It’s a good fit for them,” said Petrich, an assistant coach for the Avalanche during the 2011-12 season. “The program is in transition from kind of a bad year. They wanted to add top-notch players who could be impact players.”

Hamline recently named former Alaska Fairbanks head coach Doc DelCastillo as its bench boss. DelCastillo was the head coach of the NAHL’s Alexandria Blizzard before leaving for Hamline. Petrich, a former assistant on DelCastillo’s Alexandria staff, said the Hamline head coach is already familiar with the three former Avalanche players.

“The guys already have backgrounds with this school,” Petrich said.

Hamline is also one of four Minnesota colleges Avalanche players visited during a road trip early in the 2011-12 season.

Darge, a native of Adelaide, Australia, spent two seasons with the Avalanche, posting 24 career goals and 35 assists. Fifteen of his 59 regular season points came on special teams. The 5-foot-9 forward also had a plus-8 rating in 103 career games.

“Wehebe’s potential is unlimited,” Petrich said. “The great thing, with his character and hard work, he could be a fourth liner. In the same aspect, he could go in and be on the first line in the middle or the left wing. It makes him super intriguing.”

Novakovich, who was acquired in a preseason deal with Topeka, was among Alaska’s top scorers during his lone season with the Avalanche. Novakovich finished third on the team in scoring with 16-27-43 totals. He was second on the team with 27 assists and finished the regular season as the only Avalanche skater to play in all 60 games.

“Novakovich can score, but at the same time he can be a physical guy,” Petrich said.

Petrich noted a two-games series at Fairbanks during the regular series. Novakovich led the Avs in hits during those two games.

The Saratoga, Calif., native spent the 2010-11 season with Topeka.

Kinkopf was also acquired in an offseason trade. The 6-1 defenseman, sent to Alaska from Wenatchee, was a top blueliner for the Avs during the 2011-12 season. Kinkopf played in 47 regular season games for the Avs, bagging 6-7-13 totals. He was also a plus-9.

“He’s a solid defenseman and penalty kill guy,” Petrich said. “He makes the first pass, doesn’t try to do too much.”

Petrich said he also sees Kinkopf as a potential leader for the Pipers.

Pair of players named all-rookie

The Alaska Avalanche landed a pair of players on the NAHL All-Rookie Team, released recently. Forwards Gage Christiansen and Evan Janssen were among a dozen players recognized.

Christiansen was named to the All-Rookie first-team after leading the Avs in scoring with 16-37-53 totals. The Anchorage native was third in the league in rookie scoring and became the first player in Avalanche franchise history to score 50 or more points in a season.

Janssen, a Wisconsin native, was named to the second team. Janssen led the Avs with 23 goals and was second with 48 points.

Petrich was glad to see both players make the list.

“I thought they were both locks,” Petrich said. “It’s a big honor to the team. To be the only team to have two guys is a compliment to our rookie class.”

Blueliner named all-division

Defenseman Joe Schmitz was named All-West Division by the NAHL recently. Schmitz, a team captain and University of Connecticut recruit, posted 10-23-33 totals in 56 games. He also led the Avs with a plus-23 rating. Schmitz finished ninth in the league in scoring among defensemen.

Avs renamed

Junior hockey in the Valley is history, and now the Avalanche name is also a thing of the past.

The sale and the move of the former Valley franchise to Johnstown, Pa., was made official in late April.

The old Avalanche franchise will now be known as the Johnstown Tomahawks, according to a press release issued by the NAHL recently. Majority owner James P. Bouchard unveiled the new team name, logo and jersey, and also announced that Jason Spence has been named the new head coach of the team.

Spence has been an assistant coach of the Greenville Road Warriors of the professional East Coast Hockey League.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.