UAA grabs local standout

WASILLA — Matthew Friese had two immediate goals for his hockey career.

He wanted to play in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and have most of his schooling paid for.

Consider those goals accomplished.

The Alaska Avalanche forward and former Wasilla High School standout has verbally committed to play for UAA and could skate with the Seawolves as early as the 2010-2011 season.

“It’s a pretty sweet deal,” the 17-year-old Wasilla High School junior said on Monday. “It’s an offer I really couldn’t turn down.”

Not only did the commitment assure Friese a spot on the Seawolves’ roster, but it gives the young talent at least another year of junior hockey to hone his skills.

Friese got a jump start on his junior career last year as a 16-year-old with the Avalanche — somewhat of a rare feat in the North American Hockey League. He’s been drafted by the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League, and could potentially play with either Alaska or Tri-City next season. But regardless of where he is next year, Friese said his time with the Avalanche led to his future with the Seawovles.

“Without that, this opportunity wouldn’t have been presented,” Friese said. “I’ve got to thank my coach Dave Boitz 100 percent. If I didn’t get the opportunity to play junior hockey, I would have never got this opportunity.”

Boitz said the chance to play for UAA in the WCHA is definitely, “a big deal.”

“He’s a great player, one of those kids who’s kind of the cream of the crop coming out of Alaska,” Boitz said. “To commit to the UAA program out of the state of Alaska is a pretty big deal.”

Boitz said he’s confident UAA has found a “very good” player for the future. Despite his age, Boitz said he knew Friese was a top prospect when he saw the Wasilla product suit up as an affiliate player early in the 2008-09 season. Friese saw action with the Avs during an 8-0 loss to Kenai River and stood out.

“I was really ticked off at all the players, but he was terrific,” Boitz said. “Right there, I knew he needed to play with us.”

The Avs quickly signed Friese and added him to the roster. He opted to skip his junior season of high school hockey and concentrate on the junior level while still attending classes at WHS. Despite the difficult transition, Boitz said Friese’s jump to junior hockey at 16 was a success.

“I don’t know if people can comprehend what a jump this was,” Boitz said. “It’s night and day.”

Friese — who spent the season playing with and against players two, three and four years older — said he has really noticed his improvement while playing in USA Hockey select events with players in his own age group.

“It’s the speed of the play in junior hockey,” Friese said. “It’s not get the puck and skate the whole rink and score a goal. It’s get the puck and move it quick.”

Friese, a points producer at the prep and comp levels, posted a modest four goals and four assists during his first season of junior hockey, but a focus was on the defensive and physical elements of the game.

“I really adjusted to that, and those two things improved,” Friese said.

Boitz said he challenged Friese to become more of a physical presence on the ice.

”He really became more of a physical player,” Boitz said. “He really started to do that, especially toward the end of the season.”

Friese said there was interest from other Division I programs, but UAA’s offer was simply too much to refuse. Not only is he getting his wish to play in the WCHA, along with a significant athletic scholarship package, but he also has the chance to play in front of his family and friends at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage.

Friese’s older brother Adam, who played a season with the Avalanche, will also be a freshman at UAA next fall.

“It’s awesome,” Friese said. “I love to hunt and fish and spend time with my family. Now I can play Division I hockey and spend time with my family.”

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