Former South blueliner scores twice in debut with Avs

Frontiersman

BLAINE, Minn. — Braden Kinnebrew made the most of his Alaska Avalanche debut.

Wearing an Avalanche uniform for the first time, Kinnebrew scored a pair of goals to lead the Avs to a 4-3 win over Traverse City during the second day of the North American Hockey League Showcase in Blaine, Minn., on Thursday.

After Traverse City took the early lead with a pair of goals in the first period, the Alaska blueliner scored 8 minutes and 54 seconds into the second to put the Avs on the scoreboard.

After first-year forward Jay Baldwin scored at the 9:20 mark, Kinnebrew scored again to give the Avs the 3-2 lead.

“He’s definitely a top-notch defenseman,” Alaska head coach Dave Boitz said by phone on Thursday.

Kinnebrew, a former South Anchorage standout who was selected by the Avs in the 2007 NAHL Draft, was acquired in a trade earlier this week.

Even though Kinnebrew was drafted by Alaska, the defenseman opted to play for the Trail Smoke Eaters of the British Columbia Hockey League during the 2007-08 campaign.

Before the beginning of the season, Kinnebrew was traded by the Smoke Eaters to the St. Albert Steel of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Alaska president and general manager Jamie Smith said on Thursday that Kinnebrew expressed an interest to return to his home state, and the Avs made a deal to bring the talented defenseman back to Alaska.

“He brings some experience, and today he brought some scoring,” Smith said.

Kinnebrew’s former teammate at South Anchorage, Robb Haider, scored his first career junior hockey goal in the win. Haider, a two-time Alaska prep hockey player of the year, scored on the power play late in the second to give the Avs the 4-2 lead.

Veteran Tyler Currier led the Avs with two assists, and goaltender Garrett Tinkham stopped 20 Traverse City shots to allow the Avs to record their first win of the year.

“I’m really happy with the way the guys battled,” Boitz said of the Avs’ effort during their first win of the season. “They played with a lot of passion.”

The Avs, who suffered a 5-2 loss to Alexandria in their season-opener on Wednesday, have now outshot their first two opponents.

Last season, Alaska failed to out-shoot an opponent for the final 31 games of the season.

Boitz said, not only did the Avs get shots, but they were quality attempts.

“Grade A shots, it was a least 2-to-1,” Boitz said, referring to opportunities between the circles, deep inside the opponent’s zone.

On Wednesday, the Avs out-shot Alexandria 36-24.

Ryan Kowal and Dylan Jones scored the Alaska goals.

Alaska continues play in the Showcase against the US National Team Developmental Program today at 9:30 a.m. On Saturday the Avs face Springfield at 12:30 p.m. AST.

Springfield includes former Alaska forward and Wasilla High standout Jeremiah Dargis.

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

Alaska 4, Traverse City 3

NAHL Showcase

Thursday, Blaine, Minn.

First period — 1. Traverse City- Bonis (Schenfeld) pp 9:09; 2. Traverse City- White (Wendecker) 19:26.

Second period — 3. Alaska- Kinnebrew (Currier) 8:54; 4. Alaska- Baldwin (McNeely) 9:20; 5. Alaska- Kinnebrew (Pino, Currier) 12:29; 6. Alaska- Haider (Pichler, Braun) pp 14:19.

Third period — 7. Traverse City- Johnstone (Amin) 3:16.

Shots on goal: Alaska 10-9-5—24, Traverse City 6-9-8—23; Saves: Alaska- Tinkham 4-9-7—20, Traverse City- Motte 10-5-5—24; Power plays: Alaska 1-for-6, Traverse City 1-for-7; Penalties: Alaska 10-for-23, Traverse City 9-for-21.

Alexandria 5, Alaska 2

NAHL Showcase

Wednesday, Blaine, Minn.

First period — 1. Alexandria- Scatterelli (Carey) 4:12; 2. Alexandria- Swavely (Nutt, MacRae) 12:06; 3. Alaska- Kowal (unassisted) 12:19.

Second period — 4. Alaska- Jones (unassisted) pp 2:03; 5. Alexandria- Knoepke (Scatterelli, Freismuth) pp 2:46.

Third period — 6. Alexandria- Knoepke (Norman, Freismuth) pp 1:24; 7. Alexandria- Clement (Vichorek) 5:49.

Shots on goal: Alexandria 6-6-12—24, Alaska 11-1-24—36; Saves: Alexandria- Woodring 11-0-24—36, Alaska- MacGinnis 4-5-0—9, Tinkham x-x-10—10; Power plays: Alexandria 2-for-10, Alaska 1-for-14; Penalties: Alexandria 16-for-32, Alaska 15-for-38.