Wasilla Spirit forward earns mention from NAHL

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

WASILLA - Gavin Dittman has only played in eight games this year, but each time the Anchorage native takes the ice he seems to make a huge impact.

Dittman, who has posted seven goals and six assists in those eight game, tallied two goals and an assist in a 5-2 win over Texarkana last week. Late last week Dittman was listed as an honorable mention in the voting for the North American Hockey League player of the week.

&#8220He's a blue chip player, that's for sure,” Wasilla head coach Dean Larson said. &#8220He's done a lot for our team in a short time.”

Devin Hartigan, Wasilla's second string netminder, was an honorable mention for defensive player of the week after recorded his first win in a Wasilla uniform, in the 5-2 win over the Bandits.

Hockey is currently just a part-time gig for Dittman. The 5-foot-8 forward is a full-time student at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo. Dittman was first added to the Spirit roster while he was on his college Christmas break. Dittman enjoyed a five-game point scoring streak in early January. During that stretch he posted five goals and five assists, and helped Wasilla earn three wins.

Dittman returned to the ice while he was on spring break and helped Wasilla notch a big win over Texarkana, one of the top three teams in the NAHL.

&#8220The reason we allow it is he can step right into the lineup and really help our team out,” Larson said. &#8220His situation is pretty rare. I don't think there's another player in junior hockey who just joins the team on school breaks.”

Larson said he is not sure if Dittman will be able to play again this season. He said there is a possibility Dittman may be able to re-join the team for the third game of Wasilla's first-round playoff series against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on April 7.