ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Alaska Aces have agreed to terms with Anchorage-born winger Jason Ryznar (pictured in Houston last year) for the 2009-10 season.

The 6-3, 200-pound Ryznar grew up in Anchorage, leaving Service High School after his sophomore year to join the United States National under-18 team. After two more seasons with the U.S. Junior team, he enrolled at the University of Michigan in the fall of 2001 and helped lead the Wolverines to back-to-back Frozen Fours in his freshman and sophomore seasons. Ryznar, 26, finished his college career with 72 points (28g-44a) in 145 games and turned pro in 2005, spending three full seasons in the New Jersey organization and playing eight games for the Devils during the 2005-06 campaign. Originally a third-round pick (64th overall) of New Jersey in 2002, Ryznar became a free agent before last season and landed with Houston (AHL), helping the Aeros defeat Alaska’s AHL affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen, in seven games in the opening round of last year’s Calder Cup playoffs.

Richard Kellington, Shaden Moore, and Mike McKenna round out the field of 12 defensemen that have been invited to Alaska’s camp. The 6-2, 195-pound Moore spent the last three seasons at the University of Alberta after two years of major junior experience in the Western Hockey League. The 6-1, 200-pound McKenna played his first two pro seasons in Sweden and Austria after three years at York University (CIS).

Ryznar and 24-year-old winger Alexandre Gagne complete a list of 15 forwards in camp. Gagne comes off a three-year stint at Michigan Tech in the WCHA, totaling 37 points (15g-22a) in 109 games for the Huskies.

The third annual “Paint the Rink Pink” pre-season games at Sullivan Arena will be played against Kalamazoo Wednesday and Thursday at 7:15 p.m. A portion of the proceeds from those games will be donated to Breast Cancer Focus, Inc., and the American Cancer Society in Alaska. The Aces open their regular season in Anchorage against Victoria Friday, Oct. 16, at 7:15 p.m.