April 25, 2007
FAIRBANKS, AK -Alaska Nanook hockey announces the signings of forwards Tibor Kutalek (TEE-bore KU-tal-lek) of Skalica, Slovakia and Dustin Sather of Wanham, Alberta to National Letters of Intent for the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Kutalek, the Nanooks first European recruit since Dima Kulmanovsky of Khabarovsk, Russia (1992-95), is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound forward from the Santa Fe Roadrunners of the North American Hockey League. He finished tied for second in the NAHL in goals this season and for eighth in scoring with 43 goals and 33 assists for 76 points with 55 penalty minutes in 60 games. In addition to being named Santa Fe's Offensive Player of the Year, he was also the team's fastest skater.
"Tibor is very dynamic," said assistant coach Wade Klippenstein. "He is one of those kids that has that extra gear. He is great on the power play and just a very highly offensively-skilled kid. His numbers in the North American League are very good and he is the guy we expect to come in and contribute right away offensively."
Kutalek played the 2005-2006 season for the Helena Bighorns of the NAHL. He was their leading scorer with 32 goals and 34 assists for 57 points with 66 penalty minutes in 57 games and was named their Most Valuable Player. He was also selected to the NAHL's All-Rookie team.
Kutalek played three games for the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League in 2004-2005 scoring one goal in three games. He spent most of that season with the Indy Checkers Tier I U-18 Midgets.
He started his American hockey career the previous season as an exchange student for Eagan High School (Minnesota) scoring 27 goals and adding 13 assists for 40 points in 25 games to earn Lake Conference Honorable Mention All-Conference honors. His brief prep career was highlighted by a six-goal conference game against Kennedy High School.
"Tibor is dynamic, exciting, he's got a lot of flash to his game and is a great skater," Klippenstein said. "One thing people notice the most about him is that he can change speeds with the puck and not a lot of kids have that ability."
Sather, a 5-foot-8, 170-pound, left wing has played five years for the Grande Prairie Storm of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. He was happy for the opportunity to join the Nanooks and attend UAF.
"Ever since I started playing junior hockey it has always been a goal of mine," Sather said.
In the 2006-2007 regular season Sather scored 41 goals and 63 assists for 104 points with 59 penalty minutes in 58 games to earn Ernie Love Trophy as the AJHL scoring leader and the Alberta Old Time Hockey Players Trophy as AJHL Most Valuable Player.
"His point totals are better than anyone we've brought in in a long time," Klippenstein said. "He's very creative offensively, an offensively gifted player, he's got a great stick and can score from anywhere."
He was selected to the starting lineup and was assistant captain of the AJHL North All Stars and was the winner of the AJHL Source for Sports Cup for compiling the most Player of the Game points during the season.
"A deficiency in our program recently has been our ability to score goals," said Klippenstein, "and with the loss of (Kyle) Greentree and (Curtis) Fraser we need guys that can come in right away and score. He's going to get every opportunity to play in some key offensive situations."
In 2005-2006 Sather had 31 goals and 54 assists for 85 points with 48 penalty minutes in 59 games, in 2004-2005 20 goals and 32 assists for 52 points in 61 games, in 2003-2004 15 goals and 33 assists for 48 points in 56 games, and in 2002-2003 13 goals and 21 assists for 34 points in 53 games. He holds the Grande Prairie career records for games played, goals, assists and points.
Sather was on the AJHL North Viking Cup gold medal team and was named Top Forward for Grande Prairie in 2005-2006. He played in the AJHL All-Star game in 2005-2006 and in the AJHL Prospects game in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005.
"He's a puck control player; where you'll really notice it is on the power play," Klippenstein said. "He's a guy who needs the puck; he demands the puck and he makes great plays when he has it."
Sather went straight to Junior A hockey from bantams. In 2001-2002 he had 27 goals and 42 assists for 69 points with 34 penalty minutes in 35 games to lead the Grande Prairie Golden Arrow Storm and finish third in Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League scoring. He was a member of the AMBHL North Division All-Star Team. In the 2000-2001 AMBHL season he had eight goals and 17 assists for 25 points with 20 penalty minutes in 31 games.
"His challenge in college is going to be, can he get to the net," said Klippenstein. "He's an undersized guy who's going to have to beat people with his stick and his feet."
Sather acknowledged the transition he will face.
"The pace of the game is different," he said. It's all faster, quicker and stronger so making the adjustment as quick as I can, will help me and the team out in the long run. I'm looking forward to the challenge and all the other great players in the country I'll get to see and play against.
Kutalek and Sather join forwards Derek Klassen (Whitehorse, Yukon) and Kevin Petovello (Sparwood, B.C.) and defensemen Scott Enders (Edmonton, AB) and Jeff Penner (Steinbach, MB) as the fifth and sixth recruit to sign during the NCAA's late signing period.
The two complete the recruiting class at nine skaters with the three that signed during the early period last November, including forwards Jamie Benn (Victoria, B.C.) and Landon Novotney (Red Deer, AB) and defenseman Bryant Molle (Anchorage, AK).
"In the last two years my main focus was finding kids that are of great character, that work hard and can skate," said Klippenstein, "and all of these guys fit into that mold. We are getting smaller and faster and it will bring a whole different dynamic to this team."
