Top prospect grabs the attention of league

PALMER — Since his days at Duluth-Marshall High in Duluth, Minn., Jake Williams has been seen as a promising defenseman with a ton of potential. But he’s always seemed to share a blue line with another player who’s scoring all of the attention.

In high school, teammates such as Derek Forbort — a first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings who currently skates for Division I North Dakota — were getting the publicity. Last year during his first season with the Alaska Avalanche, it was Jake Parenteau — now a defeseman at the University of Minnesota — who was grabbing the headlines.

But now, the Alaska Avs assistant captain is getting some of the attention he deserves. On Monday, Williams was named the North American Hockey League West Division Player of the Week and later this week, Williams will skate in the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, a showcase event slated to start Friday in Malpole, Mass.

“This is the first year actually being the guy, which is something he’s wanted,” Alaska head coach Brian Huebel said.

But even skating with the future Division I skaters, Huebel said Williams’ play has never been overshadowed.

“Jake has definitely created his own identity,” Huebel said. “A lot of times, a compliment.”

But now he’s the leader on the Avalanche blue line, a player contributing in all facets of the game. That and his consistency are two reasons Williams is a success, Huebel said.

“Jake is always going to be consistent. Obviously, everyone has up and down games, but Jake is steady, just like he was last year,” Huebel said.

Williams is currently ranked first on his team and fourth in the NAHL in scoring among defenseman with 20 points (three goals, 17 assists). He’s also a plus-9 with eight points (1-7-8) on the power play.

Last year, Williams put together 5-22-27 totals. He ranked 13th in the league in scoring among defensemen and his plus-20 rating was second-best on the Avs.

“He’s a kid we can put on the ice in all situations,” Huebel said. “When we need goals, he definitely can contribute.”

Williams scored the game-winner during a 3-2 win over the Fresno Monsters on Saturday to cap off his five-point (2-3-5) weekend.

While folks have talked plenty about Williams’ former teammates who are now Division I players, Huebel believes Williams is not far from landing his own spot on college hockey’s highest level.

“No question, he’ll play Division I. It’s just going to have to be at the right school,” Huebel said.

At 5-foot-9, 185-pounds, Williams is seen as an undersized defenseman by Division I standards, but Huebel said that should not be the focus when looking at Williams.

“Obviously with DI, everyone is looking for size. But to me, it baffles me,” Huebel said. “He’s such a good skater and strong. He’s got great speed and he makes good, smart decisions.”

Williams is one of three Avs slated to compete in the Top Prospects, an event created to showcase the league’s talents to the Eastern side of the United States.

Forwards Zach Smith and Brandon Brossoit were also chosen to play earlier this season.

Smith, skating in his third season with the Avs, is currently fourth on the team in scoring with 20 points (10-10-20), despite missing eight games due to injury.

Smith, who is Alaska’s second-leading scorer in franchise history with 92 points, is also a Division I prospect.

“We have high expectations for Zach, and he has high expectations for himself,” Huebel said of Smith.

Brossoit, who was acquired in an offseason trade with Wenatchee, is currently second on the squad with 25 points (12-13-25). The 18-year-old Los Alamitos, Calif., native, who has also skated in the elite Western Hockey League, is another player currently being looked at by Division I schools.

This weekend’s event is different from the league’s Top Prospects showcase held in Ann Arbor, Mich., each year, Huebel said.

The Michigan tournament was designed to showcase the league’s top unsigned talent in one event in front of hundreds of Division I, Division III and professional scouts. The Massachusetts tournament this weekend will also include players who have already committed to colleges.

Huebel said this tournament was designed to showcase the league in the East, a region of the U.S. that does not include an NAHL team. Currently, the league’s easternmost teams reside in Michigan.

The tournament includes four all-star teams, which have been named for four of the league’s more prominent alumni — Buffalo Sabers goaltender Ryan Miller, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski, Nashville Predators forward David Legwand and New York Islanders forward Doug Weight.

Williams, Smith and Brossoit will skate for Team Rafalski. That squad also includes former Avs Daniel Hildebrandt and Beau Walker.

Huebel said nominations for this event were made early in the season. Players who have already committed to Division I programs and those recognized in the latest rankings released by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau were the first to be named to the all-star teams. Huebel said he certainly would like to see Avs such as Jake Barber (who leads the league with 20 goals) and goalie Landon Peterson (who is second in the league with 631 saves) on the list.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/matsu_sports.