Volunteer finds new role with Avs

PALMER — Until recently, Andrew Good was simply a dedicated hockey dad. Now he’s replacing a longtime hockey man who wants to spend more time as dad.

Good, who started with the Alaska Avalanche as a volunteer, has been promoted to general manager, replacing Dave Boitz, who decided to return with his family to his home state of Minnesota.

“I think it’s a phenomenal opportunity,” said Good, who served as the team’s director of game operations and billeting during the 2010-11 season.

Good became a fixture at local rinks as he followed the progress of his hockey playing sons Ivan and Ashton. Three years ago, he began to volunteer his time with the Avalanche, the Valley-based North American Hockey League Junior A squad, and helped out whenever he could. With each season, Good further cemented his place with the team, and now takes on a full-time role as GM.

While Good wasn’t exactly born with a pair of skates on like many of his colleagues, business sense and organizational skills helped land him the job.

“He adds a significant amount of energy, enthusiasm and organization to our program,” Avalanche team owner Mark Lee said in a press release issued by the NAHL. “He also has a phenomenal ability to communicate at all levels within and outside our organization, and will be a great asset to not only our club, but the community and the (NAHL).”

Good also prides himself on his ability to mentor and connect with the athletes.

“I want the kids to have success in life. I want them to succeed on the ice as well as life in general,” Good said. “I’ve had a great relationship with the boys, both at the rink and out of the rink.”

Good’s responsibilities will include coordination of travel and needs of the players, and will help oversee the management, marketing and promotion of the franchise. He will work alongside first-year head coach Corey Millen with personnel matters. He will help Lee oversee a marketing staff that now includes John Klapperich, who was recently named the organization’s director of sales and marketing.

“I’m very excited. I think we’re going to take the organization to the next level,” Good said of the new front office assembled.

Good is also excited to work with Millen, a former National Hockey League player and University of Minnesota star who has tremendous connections nationwide.

“It’s the greatest thing on Earth right now,” Good said. “What (Corey) has to offer is unbelievable.”

Good fills the void left by Boitz, who helped turn the Avalanche into a contender in the NAHL West.

“Dave has been a great mentor,” Good said.

Boitz leaves after three years with the Avs, two as head coach and another as GM.

After guiding the Avalanche to a 23-30-5 mark during his first season as head coach, the Boitz-led Avs set franchise marks with 32 wins and 71 points during the 2009-10 season. In 2010-11 with Boitz serving as general manager and former head coach Brian Huebel and assistant Sean Fish on the bench, the Avs tied the team record with 32 victories.

Huebel and Fish moved on early in the offseason, each accepting new positions with the NAHL’s Wichita Falls Wildcats.

“On behalf of the Alaska Avalanche organization, we want to thank Dave for his service to this club and the community,” Lee said in the league release. “He’s been an instrumental part of this organization.”

Boitz said the decision to leave Alaska did not come easily.

Boitz said when he decided to leave his post as the head coach of the NAHL’s North Iowa Outlaws nearly four years ago and take over as head coach of the Avs, he and his wife made a call.

By the time his daughter entered kindergarten, Boitz said his family wanted to solidify their roots in either Alaska or their home state of Minnesota. His daughter enters kindergarten in the fall, and ultimately the Boitzes felt the need to return home.

“We want to be closer to family,” Boitz said.

Boitz is not just leaving the Avs, but the game of hockey — at least for now. He has an opportunity to become involved in a family business and take a break from a sport he’s been a part of for more than 20 years.

“It’s bittersweet. Obviously, I’ll miss it. I’ll miss the kids,” Boitz said. “But it will be nice going home every weekend. It’ll allow me to spend more time with my family. This is tough on your family. It’s going to be a change, but I think for the better.”

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