Robb Haider (F)

Another Alaskan will pull on a UW-Stout sweater next season. One of Alaska’s premiere prep players, Robb Haider, has commited to UW-Stout for the 2010-2011 season.  Haider attended South Anchorage High where he was an force to reckon with from day 1.

His former high school coach, Mike Ashley, gave him the nickname “super freshmen”.  Coach Ashley gave this to only the most elite freshmen who he thought could make an impact right away in the tough CIC conference.

There are very few (Super Freshmen) in the league,” Ashley said. “Lots of freshmen, but few have an impact.”

Robb was one of those impact players.

Haider went on to carry his South Anchorage Wolverines to four-straight state championships. Robb also set the South Anchorage record for career points in just three seasons.  He ended with 71 goals and 62 assists for 133 points in 102 games.  Haider put himself into another elite class, joining former Anchorage East star and current Montreal Canadian Scott Gomez (1995, 1996) as the only two men to be named state player of the year more than once.

After being recognized as the best prep player in Alaska for two years running, Haider was happy to stay close to home.  He signed with the Alaska Avalance in the NAHL where he spent two full seasons.  In 2008-2009 Robb tallied 25 points and improved those numbers in 2009-2010 contributing 32 points.

Haider Excels Off-Ice

Robb is not only a blue-chip prospect on-ice, but he is also gifted in the classroom as well.

“Education always comes first in my family,” said Haider.

Haider graduated Magna Cum Laude from South Anchorage High School, where he also was a member of the National Honor Society.  Robb was honored each semester with the school’s Academic Achievement Award and achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Haider plans on majoring in Engineering at UW-Stout, one of the universities premiere fields of study.

Haider Arrives With Alaskan Company

Haider will join his former Avalanche teammates Logan Maly, Logan Rounds and Jed McGlasson who will all be freshmen next season.  They will also join former teammates in the form of Justin Giles (Soph) and Jason Cohen (Soph-Transfer).  That’s a total of six players on the Blue Devils roster who played their junior hockey for the Avalanche.  Can we call it a pipeline yet?

Bottom Line

Haider should find good chemistry with some many other Avs on the roster with him.  Coach Watkins may look to keep these players together as a unit; quite similar to what Norwich did with their stellar freshmen from last year.

With offensive weapons like Scott Motz, Derek Hanson and Joel Gaulrapp all graduating,  Haider could be looked to as a “super freshmen”.  He would need to quickly adjust to collegiate hockey and work hard to contribute right away. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s been looked to as the “super freshmen”, would it?

An interesting side note.  Robb Haider’s father, Kurt Haider, is the play-by-play broadcaster for the UAA Seawolves (WCHA DI).