As the Alaska Aces continue unveiling their roster for the upcoming season, they're pushing youngsters to the forefront.
The ECHL club on Tuesday announced it has signed two rookie forwards fresh out of major-junior hockey, and those additions mean four of the team's six announced signings are rookies.
The Aces have secured center Chris Langkow, 20, and winger T.J. Battani, 20.
"We want a good mix of young guys who can learn from our veterans,'' said Aces coach Brent Thompson. "I'm not just trying to build a team for the immediate time, but for the future too.''
If Langkow's last name rings a bell, it's likely because one of his cousins, Daymond Langkow, is a Calgary Flames forward who has played more than 1,000 games in the NHL. Another cousin, Scott Langkow, is a former NHL goaltender who pulls his paycheck in Europe these days. (Thompson, a former NHL defenseman, played with Scott and against Daymond).
Chris Langkow last season played all but one of his 70 games for the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League, and earned 21-38--59 totals and a plus-minus rating of plus-29. Thompson said Langkow possesses speed and offensive potential.
Battani began last season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League before moving to the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors -- in 54 combined games, he earned 10-12--22 totals and a plus-11 rating. Thompson rates him a strong candidate to kill penalties.
Thompson said one advantage in getting rookies out of the major- junior ranks is they are accustomed to a game-heavy schedule like that in the ECHL, where teams play 72 regular-season games. The WHL plays 72 regular-season games and the OHL plays a 68-game schedule.
"What I like about the junior kids is they're acclimated to the grind,'' Thompson said. "Kids coming from college are usually a little more mature -- they're older -- and better conditioned, but the junior kids are used to game after game after game.''
The four rookies the Aces have signed are split evenly between college and major-junior backgrounds. Winger Addison DeBoer arrives after four seasons at Colorado College of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and defenseman Craig Gaudet comes from St. Cloud State of the WCHA.
The other two players the Aces have signed -- former NHL center Brian Swanson and returning defenseman Bryan Miller -- are both veterans.
Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.
By DOYLE WOODY
dwoody@adn.com