Goaltender responds with season-high against Kenai

Frontiersman

WASILLA — Following a loss to Fairbanks earlier this month, Alaska head coach Dave Boitz challenged Avalanche goaltender Nathaniel Pellegrino.

“I told him I was a little dissapointed in his play,” Boitz said. “I told him we expected more, and I didn’t think we could win with average or below average goaltending.”

On Saturday, Pellegrino responded.

The Alaska netminder, in his second tour of duty with the Avalanche, posted a season-best 49 saves during a 3-2 shootout win over the Kenai River Brown Bears at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena.

Pellegrino was also perfect in the shootout to help Alaska score the win and stay within three points of Kenai River and Wenatchee, who are currently locked tie for second place in the North American Hockey League West Division.

Boitz said he felt Pellegrino showed on Saturday what type of goaltender he can be.

“He has the potential ability to be phenominal,” Boitz said.

But the key, Boitz added, is the goalie’s ability to do so on a consistant basis.

During his first season with Alaska, the 2006-07 campaign, Pellegrino played better than a 6-15-2 record would indicate. He posted a .906 saves percentage and was among league-leaders in shots faced, averaging 35 per game.

During that season, he stopped 40 or more shots eight times. He collected a junior career-high 57 saves during a 5-2 win over Fairbanks in December 2006 and recorded 56 saves during a 2-1 win over Alexandria later that year.

His numbers were solid the following year in Alpena. In 28 starts with the NAHL’s Ice Diggers, Pellegrino was 12-9-1 with a 2.93 goals against average and .901 saves percentage during the 2007-08 season.

Pellegrino’s opponent, Kenai’s Jimmy Hamby also stood out in the game, registering 50 saves of his own.

“Both goalies were fantastic,” Boitz said.

Both Alaska and Kenai River have had their issues between the pipes this season, but Boitz said consistant goaltending could lead to both teams being a force in the West Division.

“If you get this kind of goaltending, either us or Kenai can beat anybody in the division,” Boitz said.

Alaska forward

scores in Showcase

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Alaska forward Kyle Pichler scored a goal for the West Division All-Stars during a 3-2 loss to the South All-Stars at the NAHL Top Prospects Showcase at the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Sunday.

Pichler is one of four Alaska players chosen to play in the annual round-robin tourney that was created by the league to showcase its talent to college scouts.

Tyler Currier, Jason Cohen and Sean McNeely also made the trip. Currier and Cohen recorded assists on Pichler’s goal.

“They’ve done a good job,” Boitz said of the players.

Boitz had a chance to see the Alaska talent in action, via an Internet broadcast. Each of the games is available to be viewed at www.b2TV.com.

The four Alaska players also skated in a 4-1 loss to the United States National Team Developmental Program U-17 squad on Tuesday.

Currier had one shot on goal during the loss.

The West All-Stars will conclude tourney play against the Central All-Stars today at 7 a.m. AST.

USNTDP U-17 4, West 1

NAHL Top Prospects Tournament

Monday, Ann Arbor, Mich.

First period — no scoring.

Second period — 1. USNTDP- D’Amigo (Nieto, Fallon) 3:25, 2. USNTDP- Henrion (Faulk, Treais) 3:35, 3. USNTDP- Treals (Clare, Zucker) 9:44, 4. West- Darwitz (Cadiz, Boran) pp 15:15.

Third period — 5. USNTDP- Treals (Wrenn, Ryan) 18:31.

Shots on goal: West 5-4-9—18, USNTDP 12-18-18—48; Saves: West- Dugas 20, Cook 24. USNTDP- Campbell 17; Power palys: West 1-for-4, USNTDP 1-for-9.

South 3, West 2

NAHL Top Prospects Tournament

Sunday, Ann Arbor, Mich.

First period — 1. South- Paulazzo (McNeil) 7:20.

Second period — no scoring.

Third period — 2. West- Goodmanson (Kirtland, Martell) 10:25, 3. South- Curry (Bahnemann, Frey) 11:18, 4. West- Pichler (Cohen, Currier) 15:01, 5. South- Trousdale (Wolfgram, Swank) 18:45.

Shots on goal: South 17-9-10—36, West 11-5-13—29; Saves: South- Merriam 27, West- Cook 25, Dugas 8; Power plays: South 0-for-6, West 0-for-1.