Nothing on Nick Mazzolini's recent rink resume pegged him as an offensive force -- his season-high for goals in four campaigns at Providence College was a modest seven, both as a junior and senior.

Yet Alaska Aces coach Brent Thompson liked the native of Anchorage right off the hop when he saw the rookie center in training camp with the Peoria Rivermen, Alaska's affiliate in the American Hockey League.

The rap on Mazzolini has always been his slow feet. What stood out to Thompson, though, was Mazzolini's fast, agile mind.

"The way he grasped everything quickly,'' Thompson recalled. "We'd do a drill or go through systems, and you didn't have to tell him anything twice. And some things he figured out without being told just because he has that hockey sense.''

Granted, 11 pro games is clearly too small a sample to draw conclusions, but Mazzolini has thus far displayed a scoring touch, racking eight goals and five assists and a plus-6 rating in that span. Entering tonight's series opener on the road against the ECHL-leading Idaho Steelheads, Mazzolini ranks third among Aces in goals, fourth in points and tied for third in plus-minus.

Of course, it hasn't hurt that lately he has centered left wing John Lammers, a proven ECHL sniper, and veteran right wing Eric Boguniecki, a former 22-goal scorer in the NHL.

That line mauled the Utah Grizzlies in two games last weekend. Mazzolini's line combined for four goals and nine assists in a 6-2 win Saturday after combining for four goals and two assists in a 5-2 win Friday.

Mazzolini delivered his first pro hat trick and two assists in the Saturday victory.

"It was very cool,'' Mazzolini said. "I don't think I've had a hat trick in 10 years. I might have had one in juniors, but I don't remember it.

"Surreal. I don't think I've had a five-point game since bantams.''

To hear Boguniecki tell it, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Mazzolini packs a brain ideally suited to the pro game, where positioning and anticipation -- attributes common to players who possess "hockey sense'' -- are as critical as pure speed and a hard shot.

"One thing you can't teach is how to score goals, and Nick definitely has the knack,'' Boguniecki said. "His hockey sense is terrific. He knows how to get open.

"Less is more. You see guys flying all over the place in college, but they're usually out of position. The knock on him will be his feet, but I'll take him over a guy who can fly any day. Plus, he's extremely coachable, and that goes a long way.''

Mazzolini spent the first nine games of the season on the injured-reserve list, strengthening his left knee after undergoing surgery in March. He has also worked on his skating with Laura Stamm of Anchorage, a world-renowned power-skating coach.

When Thompson inserted Mazzolini into the lineup, he immediately liked what he saw.

"He played really well,'' Thompson said. "He wasn't a liability, and he was good in face-offs, which really excited me. He's earned his playing time, but he also evolved into it.

"I think the fact he has great hands and great vision, and is playing with certain guys -- Lammers and Boguniecki -- has helped. If you get into a scoring area, those guys will get you the puck.''

Mazzolini, who played two seasons in the North American Hockey League before going to Providence, said the structured, systems-oriented pro game seems to fit his strengths better than the college game.

And having Lammers and Boguniecki on his wings is a boost to a rookie finding his way in the play-for-pay world.

"Lammers always has his nose to the grindstone,'' Mazzolini said. "And Bogie is always working, trying to get things done.

"It's that weird chemistry thing. Everybody seems to be able to do a little bit of everything, so it has worked.''

Shuffling the deck

Goaltender Sebastian Dahm, who had been up with Peoria in the American Hockey League, returned to the Aces on Wednesday and met up with them in Boise.

Rookie winger Bryan Leitch, acquired in a trade earlier this week, also met the team in Boise and is expected to be in the lineup tonight.

Defenseman T.J. Fast, on promotion to Peoria, remains with the Rivermen.