NAHL sets first-round slate of playoff games

WASILLA — The Alaska Avalanche are in the postseason and the Avs will open the playoffs on their own sheet of ice.

Alaska clinched home ice advantage during the first-round of the North American Hockey League playoffs for the first time in franchise history with a pair of weekend wins over the Kenai River Brown Bears. Now the Avs, who finished in second place of the NAHL West, will host third-place Fairbanks in a best-of-5 series that starts Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena in Wasilla.

Alaska head coach Dave Boitz said the Avs are happy to have accomplished their goal of home ice during the first round, but have already set their sites on knocking the rival Ice Dogs out of the playoffs.

“The guys are excited to have home ice, but they know there are bigger things at stake,” Boitz said.

Alaska will host Fairbanks Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Menard. Game No. 3 is scheduled for April 9 at the Big Dipper Ice Arena in Fairbanks. If necessary, the teams could meet April 10 in Fairbanks. If a fifth game is needed, that game would be played April 11 at the Menard.

Tickets for Avalanche home playoff games are $10, and according to Avs marketing director Patrick O’Neill, they’ll be the cheapest postseason tickets in the West Division. The average ticket price in Wenatchee, Wash., is $20, and Fairbanks is currently charging $15 for general admission.

Tickets are available for purchase at the Avalanche team office at the Menard Memorial Sports Center today through Friday from noon to 5 p.m.

Packages for groups are also available. A private box, which includes 10 tickets, is $200. The Avs also feature the Papa John’s Party zone, available for $25 per person with a minimum of 25 people. This package includes beer, wine, soda and pizza.

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