NAHL releases master schedule; Avs to make 5 trips Outside

WASILLA — Two years ago, the Alaska Avalanche started the season with a 10-game road trip that lasted nearly a month. Later that year, the Avs had to endure a nine-game trek during a stretch of 20 days on the road. Since then, Alaska president and general manager Jamie Smith has worked to keep those grueling road sagas off the Avalanche schedule.

And this year, the schedule should be a little bit easier on the Avalanche.

The Avs will make five trips Outside this year and host 27 games at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena in Wasilla, according to the North American Hockey League 2009-2010 master schedule released last week.

“I felt pretty good about the schedule,” Smith said.

The Avs had hoped to make fewer trips, Smith said, but at least Alaska won’t have to endure the marathon-like road swings the team has had in years past.

Alaska’s longest trip next season is a six-game, 10-day trip which includes the four-day NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minn., and a weekend stop in Bismarck, N.D., to play the Bobcats.

The Avs will take three trips (Nov. 27-28, Jan. 2-3, Jan. 29-30) to Wenatchee, Wash., to play the NAHL West Division rival Wild. In late February, the Avs return to Minnesota for three games against the Alexandria Blizzard.

Alaska will also make seven trips within the state, traveling either north to Fairbanks or south to the Kenai Peninsula.

Even though the Avs go outside five times, the team could save some money. Rather than sending as many as 25 players on the long road trips that can last 20 or 30 days, Alaska can get by with sending only 20 players on the short trips.

Another positive to the 2009-2010 schedule, is the lack of big gaps between games, especially early in the season.

Last season, after making its debut at the Showcase, Alaska had to wait 21 days for another game. The Avs didn’t host their home opener until Oct. 17, and had just two home games and eight total games during the first two months of the season.

Alaska didn’t hit the 13-game mark until Nov. 20. Next year, Alaska will play its 18th game on Nov. 6.

The early-season scheduling lull also led to some late-season chaos. The Avs played 12 games in their final 22 days, including their last six games of the regular season on the road.

“A nice fact is we’re home for the last couple of weeks before the playoffs,” Smith said.

The Avs will also have a significant break in December, unlike seasons past. After hosting Kenai River on Dec. 9, Alaska will not play again until the team visits Wenatchee on Jan. 2.

“The kids will get a Christmas break this year,” Smith said.

Alaska finished third in the NAHL West last season with a 23-30-5. The Avs advanced to the first round of the playoffs, but were beaten by Wenatchee in the best-of-5 series.

In late July, the franchise will host its future prospects camp at the Menard Arena. In August, the Avs have their four-day final camp in Andover, Minn.

The regular season starts with a three-game set against Kenai River Sept. 11-13 at the Menard Arena.

Alaska caps its regular season with a two-game series against Kenai River March 26-27 at the Menard Arena in Wasilla.

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