Anchorage Daily News

Alaska Aces players aren't the only ones who have used their time here as a springboard to a higher level of hockey.

Former Aces bench boss Davis Payne moved up again Tuesday, when he was named head coach of the Peoria (Ill.) Rivermen of the American Hockey League, the circuit one rung below the NHL on the North American pro pucks ladder.

Just one season removed from guiding the Aces, and one season as a Peoria assistant coach, Payne was promoted to the head job by the parent St. Louis Blues.

Payne, 37, who coached the Aces for four seasons and led them to the ECHL's Kelly Cup in 2006, said he was excited to tackle his new position.

"Obviously, you want to move up the profession,'' he said. "I've been able to coach at some great spots, and now I've got an opportunity in the second-best league.

"It's quite an honor.''

Payne is currently vacationing in Alaska. He drove up from the Lower 48 last month to run the Mayor's Marathon and clocked a solid 26.2-mile debut of 3 hours, 46 minutes, 46 seconds. He then immediately returned to St. Louis to run the club's Development Camp before flying back to Alaska.

Payne was a finalist for the head job in Peoria in 2006, when the nod went to Dave Baseggio. Baseggio, who Payne worked under last season, engineered two winning seasons in Peoria (75-66-19 in those seasons). But the Rivermen failed to make the playoffs in either season, and Baseggio was fired in April.

This time around, Payne was the pick.

"We are excited about him developing our youth in Peoria and providing leadership for our veteran players,'' said Blues president John Davidson in a statement.

SCP Worldwide, which owns the Blues, last week finalized its purchase of the Peoria franchise, St. Louis' AHL affiliate. The Aces of the ECHL, one step below the AHL, also are affiliated with the Blues.

In seven seasons as an ECHL head coach -- four with the Aces, three with the Pee Dee Pride -- Payne's team never suffered a losing record and never failed to advance past the first round of the playoffs. He led the Aces to three consecutive berths in the conference finals and in 2007 was named the league's coach of the year

Payne's overall head coaching record is 289-142-45 (.654 winning percentage). He went 185-75-28 (.691) with the Aces.

The former NHL winger -- he played 22 games with the Boston Bruins -- forged a reputation in Anchorage for his attention to detail and for subtle lineup alterations that flourished. The Michigan Tech graduate also displayed a strong feel for which players required a softer touch and who needed a shove.

Several skaters who prospered with the Aces under Payne early in their pro careers proved pivotal players for Peoria last season. Former Aces Charles Linglet and Julian Talbot tied for the club lead in goals with 24 each. And former Aces sniper Chris Minard, who Payne brought to the Aces in 2004, made his NHL debut last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In Peoria, Payne's mission will be to develop players for duty in the NHL, the world's best league, and develop them in a winning environment. The Rivermen last made the playoffs in 2006, when they were swept in the first round.

"We are in a very difficult (West) division against very good teams, and it's hard to make the playoffs,'' Payne said. "We want to get back to that.''

Find Doyle Woody's blog online at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.

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