‘Heavy hitter,’ Alaska’s top prep goalie among Avs tenders

WASILLA — Seth Ronsberg didn’t take the route traditionally traveled by Minnesota high school-age hockey players. Rather than playing four years of prep pucks before heading off for juniors, Ronsberg took an immediate shot at the next level.

After tearing it up in a pair of leagues during the last two seasons, the Lake Elmo, Minn., resident will try to do the same next season as a member of the Alaska Avalanche. Earlier this week, the Avs announced Ronsberg as one of eight players tendered by the team.

“He’s a heavy hitter,” Alaska head coach Brian Huebel said. “He has pretty good skill. He can shoot the puck big time.”

Two years ago as a member of the Minnesota Wildcats, Ronsberg was named the most valuable player of the Junior A Tier-III Minnesota Junior Hockey League after leading the league in scoring with 101 points. Folks were so impressed by the work of the 6-2, 205-pound forward, the Wildcats decided to retire Ronsberg’s No. 7. Ronsberg was also named one of the “Top Prospects You’ve Never Heard Of” by the College Hockey Recruit Exchange after that season.

Last year, Ronsberg graduated to the Junior A-Tier II Manitoba Junior Hockey League in Canada. As a member of the Winkler Flyers — a franchise co-owned by former NHL goaltender Ed Belfour — Ronsberg posted 22-28-50 totals in 61 games.

Huebel coached against Ronsberg in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League before he was hired by the Avalanche. Alaska general manager Dave Boitz also tendered Ronsberg when Boitz was the head coach of the North Iowa Outlaws. Huebel said the Alaska coaches re-connected with Ronsberg about two months ago.

Alaska has also tendered goaltender Blake Mendenhall, forwards Tyler Maugeri, Tyler Giovannetti and Dane Morin, and defensemen Joe Schmitz, Nick McCain and Andre Rakas, Huebel said.

Mendenhall, a West Anchorage High School product, earned Alaska 4A Player of the Year honors after leading the Eagles to the 4A state title earlier this year. The 6-1, 185-pound goalie also backstopped the Alaska All-Stars AAA team during runs to the Alaska state U-18 title and USA Hockey Pacific Division championship.

Maugeri and Giovannetti are a pair of California prospects. Maugeri, who was also selected by the Fargo Force in the United States Hockey League draft, netted 21-36-57 totals in 46 games for the Los Angeles Junior Kings last season.

“He’s a high-end type of kid,” Huebel said. “He can distribute the puck well and score goals.”

Giovannetti, who was coached by former Kenai River head coach Brent Agrusa in the California Stars AAA program, is a 5-10, 160-pound front-liner with a past as a points producer.

“This is a kid who can put the puck in the net,” Huebel said.

At 6-1 and 185 pounds, Morin is a potential power forward for the Avs. The Superior, Wisc., native posted 12-8-20 totals in 22 games for Duluth-Marshall High School.

“He’s going to be more or less an in-your-face hockey player,” Huebel said. “He’s an energy guy and lead by example guy.”

Schmitz was actually drafted by Alaska last year, but opted to play for Sioux City of the USHL. Since he made that move, Schmitz underwent shoulder surgery and was also traded to Owatonna of the NAHL. Next season, Huebel believes Schmitz could help fill a big void left by departed defensemen Jake Paranteau and Logan Maly.

“We’re expecting him to come in and be one of our top guys,” Huebel said. “He’s a big, powerful defenseman, and a good skater for a big guy.”

Huebel sees Schmitz contributing on special teams as well.

McClain and Rakas were both recruited by Alaska assistant Sean Fish.

McLain is a 6-3, 190-pound blueliner who tallied 9-17-26 totals as a senior at Delano High School in Delano, Minn.

“He’s got a big, left-handed shot, should be able to put up points,” Fish said. “I see him as a (fifth or sixth defensemen) right away. Hopefully he can work his way up into the top four.”

Rakas recorded 6-14-20 totals as an assistant captain for the Lansing Capitals AAA team last season. Fish said he also sees Rakas as a player with potential to work his way into Alaska’s group of top-six defensemen.

Tendered players are not guaranteed a roster spot. The regular season roster will be determined at the team’s main camp later this summer.

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

Offseason Acquisitions

2010 NAHL draft selections

• Buzz Tryggeseth Defense Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS

Led his Buffalo High School team in assists and points after posting 5-13-18 totals as a senior.

• Tyler Pistone Forward Nanaimo, BC/Tri-City (USHL)

The 6-foot, 185-pound forward posted 6-5-11 totals in 56 games for Tri-City of the USHL during the 2009-10 season.

• Taylor Wolfe Forward Eden Prarie, Minn./Des Moines (USHL)

The 6-3, 200-pound forward tallied 3-4-7 totals in 42 games with Des Moines of the USHL last year.

• Zack Rall Defense Anchorage/Chicago (USHL)

The Anchorage native, a 6-0 and 192-pound defenseman, grabbed five assists in 46 games with Chicago of the USHL. Has already committed to UAA.

• Evan Hesse Forward Monticello, Minn./Monticello HS

Posted 13-19-32 totals as a senior at Monticello High School.

2010 tenders

• Blake Mendenhall Goalie Anchorage/West Anchorage HS

The 6-1, 185-pound goalie led West to the Alaska 4A state championship and the Alaska All-Stars U-18 AAA team to a state title and USA Hockey Pacific Division championship. “He’s a winner,” Alaska general manager Dave Boitz said. “We’re excited to have him.”

• Seth Ronsberg Forward Lake Elmo, Minn./Winkler (MJHL)

The 6-2, 205-pound forward posted 22-28-50 totals in 61 games with the Winkler Flyers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. Prior to that, Ronsberg played for the Minnesota Wildcats of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League. He had his Wildcats jersey retired after scoring a league-high 101 points and leading he MJHL in scoring during the 2008-09 season. Named one of the “Top Prospects You’ve Never Heard Of” by the College Hockey Recruit Exchange in July of 2009. “He’s a heavy hitter,” Alaska head coach Brian Huebel said.

• Tyler Maugeri Forward Malibu, Calif./Los Angeles Jr. Kings AAA

The 6-0, 170-pound centerman netted 21-36-57 totals in 46 games with the Los Angeles Junior Kings of the Tier I AAA Elite Hockey League. “He’s a really good skill guy, great charecter guy,” Huebel said. Maugeri was also selected by Fargo in the USHL draft earlier this month.

• Tyler Giovannetti Forward Temecula, Calif./California Stars AAA

The 5-10, 160-pound forward was a points producer for his Ontario, Calif., based midget squad. “This is a kid who can put the puck in the net,” Huebel said.

• Dane Morin Forward Superior, Wisc./Duluth-Marshall

The 6-1, 185-pound forward put together 12-8-20 totals in 22 games as a senior at Duluth-Marshall HS. Alaska coaches see Morin as a power forward. “He’s going to more or less be an in-your-face hockey player,” Huebel said. “He’s an energy guy and lead by example guy.”

• Joe Schmitz Defense Lino Lakes, Minn./Owatonna (NAHL)

The Avs drated this 6-3, 190-pound blueliner last season, but Schmitz opted to play for Sioux City of the USHL. The Minnesota product’s 2009-10 season included shoulder surgery and a trade to Owatonna of the NAHL. Now healthy, Schmitz is expected to make an impact. “We’re expecting him to come in and be one of our top guys,” Huebel said.

• Nick McClain Defense Delano, Minn./Delano HS

The 6-3, 190-pound defenseman tallied 9-17-26 totals as a senior at Delano High School. “He’s got a big, left-handed shot, should be able to put up points,” Alaska assistant coach Sean Fish said. “I see him as a (fifth or sixth defensemen) right away. Hopefully he can work his way up into the top four.”

• Andre Rakas Defense Holt, Mich./Lansing Capitals AAA

Fish sees potential in the 5-11, 165-pound defenseman who put together 6-14-20 totals last season. Rakas was an assistant captain on his midget AAA squad.