League changes expected to reduce travel costs

WASILLA — As the Alaska Avalanche Junior A hockey franchise makes the transition to becoming a nonprofit organization, franchise officials are taking a close look at expenses and have seen just how expensive team travel can be.

To help avoid some of the extraordinary travel costs, the North American Hockey League has worked to make travel more affordable for its three Alaskan teams, Avalanche head coach Jamie Smith said last week.

“The league really stepped up this year,” Smith said.

The biggest change will be the reduction of the number of days on the road next year. During the 2007-08 season, Alaska spent 52 days on the road, according to Smith. Next season, Smith said, the Avs will be on the road for only 26.

“It’s a big savings,” said Smith, who estimated travel costs at about $1,500 per day. “They’ve eliminated the long road trips. We’re not going to go for 30 days at a time; no more than 14 now.”

The league is also expanding to Wenatchee, Wash., giving the three Alaskan teams — the Avalanche, Fairbanks Ice Dogs and Kenai River Brown Bears — a rival closer to the 49th state.

Currently there are not any other teams west of North Dakota in the 18-team league.

Travel has become a big part of a league that started as a bus league in central Michigan more than 30 years ago.

Originally tabbed the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League, the NAHL has gone from having teams only in the Great Lakes region, to franchises in 10 different states. NAHL teams are as far east as Ohio, as for north as upper Michigan, as far west as Alaska and as far south as Texas.

“Now you’re in a league where you have to fly,” said Keith Morris, who was recently named the vice president of the Avs’ new board of directors. “It becomes very expensive to do business. That is one of the things that’s the biggest beast to tackle financially.”

Player of year nominees announced

The NAHL released the names of the 11 finalists for the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year award, an honor that is given to the most outstanding American-born junior hockey player.

The list includes St. Louis forward Sam Bozian; Wichita Falls forward Adam Cardwell; Topeka defenseman Aaron Gens; Mahoning Valley forward Derek Graham; Southern Minnesota defenseman Tim Kirby; North Iowa goalie Robbie Moss; Springfield forward Corey Patterson; Fairbanks goalie Cody Reichard; Mahoning Valley defenseman Eric Ringel; Wichita Falls forward Luke Salazar; and St. Louis forward Ben Warda.

The league will announce its official nominee for the award this week.

Fairbanks among five teams to move forward

With a 6-3 win over the Wichita Falls Wildcats in Texas on Saturday, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs advanced to the South Division finals.

The Ice Dogs will face the Topeka Roadrunners, who swept Texas.

St. Louis, Mahoning Valley and Springfield also advanced to the next round with three-game sweeps.

Alexandria, a team that includes former Avalanche forward and Houston High graduate Larry Kincaid, suffered a 4-2 loss to Southern Minnesota on Saturday. The Blizzard and Express are now tied 2-2 in the best-of-five series. The deciding game is slated for today at 1 p.m. AST.

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