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2017–18 Air Force Falcons men's ice hockey season

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2017–18 Air Force Falcons
men's ice hockey season
Atlantic Hockey Tournament, champion
NCAA Tournament, West Regional final
ConferenceT–3rd Atlantic Hockey
Home iceCadet Ice Arena
Rankings
USCHO.com14
USA Today14
Record
Overall23–15–5
Conference13–11–4
Home7–8–1
Road11–6–4
Neutral3–2–0
Coaches and captains
Head coachFrank Serratore
Assistant coachesAndy Berg
Joe Doyle
Captain(s)Dylan Abood
Alternate captain(s)Erik Baskin
Phil Boje
Tyler Ledford
Air Force Falcons men's ice hockey seasons
« 2016–17 2018–19 »

The 2017–18 Air Force Falcons men's ice hockey season was the 50th season of play for the program and the 12th season in the Atlantic Hockey conference. The Falcons represented the United States Air Force Academy and were coached by Frank Serratore, in his 21st season.

Season

[edit]

After a program-best season, Air Force entered the season with a preseason ranking, a rarity for an Atlantic Hockey school. Early on it appeared that the Falcons were going to live up to the expectations when new starting goaltender, Billy Christopoulos, filled in ably for the departed Shane Starett. However, after beginning 5–1–1, the team's offense faltered and the Falcons went through a rough patch in November and December. The defense kept Air Force in most of their games, but the Falcons were finding it difficult to score. By the end of the year, the team found itself under .500 and wallowing near the bottom of the conference standings.

Christopoulos raised his game in the second half of the season, keeping the opposition to 2 goals or fewer on most nights. The offense, too, redoubled its efforts and the Falcons began to score once more. Slowly, the team climbed out of the cellar and moved up the standings. By the end of February, Air Force had miraculously pulled into a 3-way tie for 3rd place in the conference and entered the Atlantic Hockey Tournament with a bye into the quarterfinal round.

Conference tournament

[edit]

As their postseason began, Air Force's only chance at making the NCAA Tournament was to win their conference. To do that, they would first have to overcome Army on the road. After winning the first game 5–3, the Falcons got into a defensive struggle with the Black Knights. Despite firing 33 shots on goal, Army netminder Cole Bruns turned everything aside and tied the series with a 1–0 victory. The Falcons increased the pressure in the deciding 3rd game, but again Bruns wouldn't let anything get past him. Fortunately, Christopoulos was equal to the task and the teams entered overtime with a clean scoresheet. Air Force continued the barrage, firing five shots on goal in less than 7 minutes with the last finally registering. Senior alternate captain Tyler Ledford won the game and sent the Falcons to the semifinals.

After arriving in Rochester, the Air Force offense kept up its shot total while Christopoulos remained stout in goal. The Falcons dispatched Canisius to reach their second consecutive title game and found a surprise waiting for them; the 7th-seed, Robert Morris had overcome long odds to reach the final and were riding high after taking down top-seeded Mercyhurst. Air Force put the Colonials in their place at the start, scoring twice in the first three minutes and ending the first period up 3–0. Robert Morris made a valiant effort to try and come back in the final 40 minutes, but Christopoulos was far too strong in net and the Falcons won the match by a comfortable 5–1 margin, earning the program's 7th Atlantic Hockey championship and a trip back to the NCAA tournament.[1]

NCAA tournament

[edit]

Though the team had been good over the preceding two and a half months, it was no surprise when Air Force was given the lowest seed for the tournament. That entitled the Falcons to a date with #1 St. Cloud State. The game started slowly but the Air Force needed to kill of two penalties in the later half of the first period to keep the Huskies from getting a lead. Early in the second, Ledford scored twice in the span of just over 3:30 to give the Falcons a surprising 2–0 lead. Afterwards, St. Cloud woke up and began attacking the Air Force goal. Christopoulos turned aside 18 shots in the middle frame to keep the Huskies from scoring. The upperclassmen continued to stymie St. Cloud State in the third but finally allowed the puck to get past him with just under 3 minutes left in regulation. The Huskies pulled their goalie in a desperate attempt to tie the game, but Air Force managed to collect two empty-net goals to win the match 4–1.[2]

One win away from its first Frozen Four, the team was completely outplayed in the first period against Minnesota–Duluth. Air Force was outshot 0–14 and allowed two goals. The Bulldogs pulled back and played a defensive game in the final 40 minutes but that gave the Falcons a chance to tie the match. Though they only managed 12 shots in that time, Evan Giesler scored a power play goal in the middle part of the third period to cut the lead in half and the Falcons desperately tried to score the tying goal. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be and the Falcons were knocked out in the quarterfinal round.

Departures

[edit]
Player Position Nationality Cause
Matthew Burchill Defenseman  United States Transferred to Norwich
Johnny Hrabovsky Defenseman  United States Graduation (retired)
A. J. Reid Forward  United States Graduation (retired)
Tyler Rostenkowski Defenseman  United States Left program
Shane Starrett Goaltender  United States Signed professional contract (Bakersfield Condors)

Recruiting

[edit]
Player Position Nationality Age Notes
Erik Anderson Goaltender  United States 21 Chanhassen, MN
Marshall Bowery Forward  United States 20 Rochester Hills, MI
Max Harper Forward  United States 21 Rochester Hills, MI
Shawn Knowlton Forward  United States 21 Slingerlands, NY
Zach LaRocque Goaltender  United States 20 Arvada, CO
Jacob Levin Defenseman  United States 20 Mequon, WI
Alex Mehnert Defenseman  United States 20 Moorhead, MN
Zachary Mirageas Defenseman  United States 20 Avon, OH
Walker Sommer Forward  United States 21 Arvada, CO
Isaac Theisen Forward  United States 21 Monroe, MI
Will Ulrich Goaltender  United States 21 Bloomfield Hills, MI

Roster

[edit]
No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
2 New York (state) Kyle Mackey Senior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 1994-10-07 Derby, New York Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
3 Wisconsin Jake Levin Freshman D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1997-02-03 Mequon, Wisconsin Odessa Jackalopes (NAHL)
4 Minnesota Phil Boje (A) Senior D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 192 lb (87 kg) 1994-04-13 Shoreview, Minnesota Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
6 Minnesota Alex Mehnert Freshman D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1997-06-15 Moorhead, Minnesota Omaha Lancers (USHL)
7 Minnesota Matt Koch Junior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 194 lb (88 kg) 1995-03-22 Hastings, Minnesota Wichita Falls Wildcats (NAHL)
8 Michigan Marshall Bowery Freshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1996-11-17 Rochester Hills, Michigan Topeka RoadRunners (NAHL)
9 Illinois Trevor Stone Sophomore F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1996-06-03 Pleasant Plains, Illinois Springfield Jr. Blues (NAHL)
10 Illinois Jordan Himley Senior F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 161 lb (73 kg) 1993-12-26 Mundelein, Illinois Janesville Jets (NAHL)
11 Michigan Max Harper Freshman F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1996-09-29 Rochester Hills, Michigan Topeka RoadRunners (NAHL)
12 Minnesota Matt Serratore Junior F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1994-06-21 Bemidji, Minnesota Penticton Vees (BCHL)
13 California Tyler Ledford (A) Senior F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 161 lb (73 kg) 1994-04-29 Folsom, California Wichita Falls Wildcats (NAHL)
14 Kansas Ben Kucera Senior F 5' 7" (1.7 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1995-04-23 Overland Park, Kansas Wichita Falls Wildcats (NAHL)
15 Illinois Evan Giesler Junior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1994-02-19 Naperville, Illinois Bismarck Bobcats (BCHL)
16 Michigan Kyle Haak Junior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1994-08-06 Okemos, Michigan Aberdeen Wings (NAHL)
17 Washington (state) Joe Tyran Sophomore D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1996-03-07 Chattaroy, Washington Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL)
18 Colorado Evan Feno Junior F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1995-02-14 Morrison, Colorado Janesville Jets (NAHL)
19 Michigan Isaac Theisen Freshman F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 1996-04-13 Monroe, Michigan Coulee Region Chill (NAHL)
20 Minnesota Dan Bailey Junior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 1996-03-21 St. Cloud, Minnesota Wenatchee Wild (NAHL)
21 Wisconsin Matt Pulver Sophomore F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1997-06-05 Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Aberdeen Wings (NAHL)
22 Wisconsin Pierce Pluemer Sophomore F 6' 4" (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1996-01-07 Phillips, Wisconsin Odessa Jackalopes (NAHL)
23 Colorado Dylan Abood (C) Senior D 5' 8" (1.73 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1993-05-31 Centennial, Colorado Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (NAHL)
26 Idaho Erich Jaeger Sophomore F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1996-01-02 Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Wichita Falls Wildcats (NAHL)
27 Minnesota Erik Baskin (A) Senior F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 201 lb (91 kg) 1993-10-11 Minnetonka, Minnesota Aberdeen Wings (NAHL)
28 Michigan Brady Tomlak Sophomore F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1996-05-14 Oakland, Michigan Springfield Jr. Blues (NAHL)
29 New York (state) Shawn Knowlton Freshman F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1996-08-14 Slingerlands, New York Aberdeen Wings (NAHL)
30 Minnesota Erik Anderson Freshman G 5' 11" (1.8 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1996-06-10 Chanhassen, Minnesota Pikes Peak (RMJHL)
31 Colorado Zach LaRocque Freshman G 6' 2" (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1997-01-26 Arvada, Colorado Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)
38 Michigan Will Ulrich Freshman G 6' 1" (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1996-09-18 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL)
42 Ohio Walker Sommer Freshman F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 1996-04-29 Avon, Ohio New Jersey Hitmen (USPHL)
44 North Carolina Billy Christopoulos Junior G 6' 2" (1.88 m) 194 lb (88 kg) 1994-02-01 Raleigh, North Carolina Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL)
52 Michigan Jonathan Kopacka Senior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1993-05-28 Macomb, Michigan Port Huron Fighting Falcons (NAHL)
74 Massachusetts Zack Mirageas Freshman D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1997-07-15 Newburyport, Massachusetts Bloomington Thunder (USHL)

[3]

Standings

[edit]
Conference record Overall record
GP W L T PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Mercyhurst 28 16 8 4 36 90 81 37 21 12 4 124 111
Canisius 28 17 11 0 34 94 76 38 19 17 2 117 108
Holy Cross 28 12 10 6 30 80 70 36 13 16 7 97 100
Army 28 12 10 6 30 80 70 36 15 15 6 93 91
#14 Air Force * 28 13 11 4 30 73 64 43 23 15 5 115 94
RIT 28 13 14 1 27 91 90 37 15 20 2 114 127
Robert Morris 28 12 13 3 27 79 78 41 18 20 3 119 118
American International 28 11 13 4 26 63 75 39 15 20 4 88 116
Niagara 28 10 15 3 23 76 90 36 11 22 3 93 123
Bentley 28 9 14 5 23 72 87 37 13 18 6 96 114
Sacred Heart 28 9 15 4 22 79 96 39 13 22 4 107 135
Championship: March 17, 2018
† indicates conference regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion (Riley Trophy)
Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll; updated March 5, 2018

Schedule and results

[edit]
Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Decision Result Attendance Record
Exhibition
October 2 6:05 PM vs. Lethbridge* #17 Cadet Ice ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado   Christopoulos W 3–0  1,202
Regular Season
October 6 9:07 PM at Alaska* #17 Carlson CenterFairbanks, Alaska   Christopoulos W 3–2  2,195 1–0–0
October 7 9:07 PM at Alaska* #17 Carlson CenterFairbanks, Alaska   Christopoulos T 1–1 3x3 OTL 2,649 1–0–1
October 13 7:05 PM vs. Arizona State* #19 Cadet Ice ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado   Christopoulos W 4–3  2,494 2–0–1
October 14 7:05 PM vs. Arizona State* #19 Cadet Ice ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado   Christopoulos L 3–2  2,437 3–0–1
October 20 6:07 PM at Bemidji State* #20 Sanford CenterBemidji, Minnesota   Christopoulos L 1–4  2,822 3–1–1
October 21 6:07 PM at Bemidji State* #20 Sanford CenterBemidji, Minnesota   Christopoulos W 5–1  2,902 4–1–1
October 27 5:35 PM at Canisius #18 LECOM HarborcenterBuffalo, New York   Christopoulos L 3–1  846 5–1–1 (1–0–0)
October 28 5:35 PM at Canisius #18 LECOM HarborcenterBuffalo, New York   Christopoulos L 2–3  580 5–2–1 (1–1–0)
November 3 7:05 PM vs. Army #19 Cadet Ice ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado   Christopoulos L 2–3  3,326 5–3–1 (1–2–0)
November 4 7:35 PM vs. Army #19 Cadet Ice ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado   Christopoulos L 0–2  2,477 5–4–1 (1–3–0)
November 10 5:05 PM at Holy Cross Hart CenterWorcester, Massachusetts   Christopoulos L 0–3  1,164 5–5–1 (1–4–0)
November 11 5:05 PM at Holy Cross Hart CenterWorcester, Massachusetts   Christopoulos T 3–3 OT 1,383 5–5–2 (1–4–1)
November 17 7:05 PM vs. RIT Cadet Ice ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado   Christopoulos W 4–3  1,875 6–5–2 (2–4–1)
November 18 7:05 PM vs. RIT Cadet Ice ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado   Christopoulos L 2–3  2,013 6–6–2 (2–5–1)
November 25 5:05 PM at Sacred Heart Webster Bank ArenaBridgeport, Connecticut   Christopoulos T 3–3 OT 201 6–6–3 (2–5–2)
November 26 10:30 AM at Sacred Heart Webster Bank ArenaBridgeport, Connecticut   Christopoulos W 5–3  161 7–6–3 (3–5–2)
December 1 7:05 PM vs. Niagara Cadet Ice ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado   Christopoulos L 3–6  1,974 7–7–3 (3–6–2)
December 2 5:05 PM vs. Niagara Cadet Ice ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado   Christopoulos L 2–5  1,687 7–8–3 (3–7–2)
December 29 7:05 PM vs. Colorado College* Cadet Ice ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado (Battle for Pikes Peak)   Christopoulos W 6–3  2,921 8–8–3
December 30 7:05 PM at #2 Denver* Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado Altitude2 Christopoulos L 0–6  6,281 8–9–3
January 5 7:05 PM vs. Mercyhurst Cadet Ice ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado   Christopoulos L 0–1  2,148 8–10–3 (3–8–2)
January 6 5:05 PM vs. Mercyhurst Cadet Ice ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado   Christopoulos W 5–1  1,909 9–10–3 (4–8–2)
January 12 5:05 PM at RIT Gene Polisseni CenterHenrietta, New York   Christopoulos W 2–1  1,581 10–10–3 (5–8–2)
January 13 5:05 PM at RIT Gene Polisseni CenterHenrietta, New York   Christopoulos W 4–0  2,543 11–10–3 (6–8–2)
January 19 7:05 PM vs. Sacred Heart Cadet Ice ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado   Christopoulos L 1–2  2,277 11–11–3 (6–9–2)
January 26 5:05 PM at Niagara Dwyer ArenaLewiston, New York   Christopoulos W 4–2  708 12–11–3 (7–9–2)
January 27 7:05 PM at Niagara Dwyer ArenaLewiston, New York   Christopoulos W 5–3  736 13–11–3 (8–9–2)
February 2 7:05 PM vs. American International Cadet Ice ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado   Christopoulos W 3–0  2,236 14–11–3 (9–9–2)
February 3 5:05 PM vs. American International Cadet Ice ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado   Christopoulos T 2–2 OT 2,153 14–11–4 (9–9–3)
February 9 5:05 PM at Bentley Bentley ArenaWaltham, Massachusetts   Christopoulos L 0–2  578 14–12–4 (9–10–3)
February 10 5:05 PM at Bentley Bentley ArenaWaltham, Massachusetts   Christopoulos W 4–2  480 15–12–4 (10–10–3)
February 13 10:00 AM vs. Sacred Heart People's United CenterHamden, Connecticut   Christopoulos L 1–2 OT 116 15–13–4 (10–11–3)
February 16 7:05 PM vs. Canisius Cadet Ice ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado   Christopoulos W 7–4  2,217 16–13–4 (11–11–3)
February 16 5:05 PM vs. Canisius Cadet Ice ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado   Christopoulos W 3–2  2,377 17–13–4 (12–11–3)
February 23 5:05 PM at Robert Morris Colonials ArenaNeville Township, Pennsylvania   Christopoulos W 1–0  892 18–13–4 (13–11–3)
February 24 5:15 PM at Robert Morris Colonials ArenaNeville Township, Pennsylvania   Christopoulos T 2–2 OT 1,317 18–13–5 (13–11–4)
Atlantic Hockey Tournament
March 9 5:05 PM at Army* Tate RinkWest Point, New York (Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals game 1)   Christopoulos W 5–3  1,544 19–13–5
March 10 5:05 PM at Army* Tate RinkWest Point, New York (Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals game 2)   Christopoulos L 0–1  2,009 19–14–5
March 11 5:05 PM at Army* Tate RinkWest Point, New York (Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals game 3)   Christopoulos W 1–0 OT 1,082 20–14–5
Air Force Won Series 2–1
March 16 6:30 PM vs. Canisius* Blue Cross ArenaRochester, New York (Atlantic Hockey semifinal)   Christopoulos W 3–0  587 21–14–5
March 17 5:35 PM vs. Robert Morris* Blue Cross ArenaRochester, New York (Atlantic Hockey championship)   Christopoulos W 5–1  626 22–14–5
NCAA Tournament
March 23 2:02 PM vs. #1 St. Cloud State* Premier CenterSioux Falls, South Dakota (West Regional semifinal) ESPNU Christopoulos W 4–1  7,992 23–14–5
March 24 7:02 PM vs. #11 Minnesota–Duluth* Premier CenterSioux Falls, South Dakota (West Regional final) ESPN2 Christopoulos L 1–2  8,015 23–15–5
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Mountain Time.
Source:[4]

Scoring statistics

[edit]
Name Position Games Goals Assists Points PIM
Erik Baskin F 43 16 12 28 12
Tyler Ledford F 30 6 18 24 10
Evan Giesler F 42 12 11 23 31
Jordan Himley F 37 11 12 23 16
Matt Serratore F 38 14 8 22 33
Matt Koch D 37 3 15 18 14
Brady Tomlak C 37 5 12 17 22
Phil Boje D 39 2 15 17 18
Zack Mirageas D 41 2 15 17 57
Ben Kucera C 38 4 9 13 14
Trevor Stone C/LW 39 4 9 13 14
Kyle Haak F 29 7 5 12 22
Marshall Bowery F 30 8 1 9 2
Erich Jaeger F 34 2 7 9 23
Pierce Pluemer LW 34 3 5 8 8
Jonathan Kopacka D 31 3 4 7 10
Dan Bailey D 38 1 6 7 14
Alex Mehnert D 15 2 4 6 6
Jake Levin D 21 2 4 6 14
Dylan Abood D 35 1 5 6 16
Walker Sommer C 18 1 4 5 4
Kyle Mackey D 19 2 2 4 20
Matt Pulver F 20 2 1 3 4
Joe Tyran D 23 2 1 3 9
Max Harper F 5 0 1 1 2
Billy Christopoulos G 43 0 1 1 2
Evan Feno F 1 0 0 0 0
Zack LaRocque G 2 0 0 0 0
Bench - - - - - 20
Total 115 187 302 417

[5]

Goaltending statistics

[edit]
Name Games Minutes Wins Losses Ties Goals Against Saves Shut Outs SV % GAA
Billy Christopoulos 43 2534 23 15 5 87 1026 5 .922 2.06
Zach LaRocque 2 53 0 0 0 3 21 0 .875 3.36
Empty Net - 26 - - - 4 - - - -
Total 43 2614 23 15 5 94 1047 5 .918 2.16

Rankings

[edit]
Poll Week
Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 (Final)
USCHO.com 17 19 20 18 19 NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR - 14
USA Today NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 14 14

USCHO did not release a poll in Week 24.[6]

Awards and honors

[edit]
Player Award Ref
Dylan Abood Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award [7]
Billy Christopoulos Atlantic Hockey Regular Season Goaltending Award
Billy Christopoulos Atlantic Hockey Tournament MVP
Billy Christopoulos All-Atlantic Hockey Third Team
Billy Christopoulos Atlantic Hockey All-Tournament Team [8]
Zack Mirageas
Jonathan Kopacka
Kyle Haak
Jordan Himley

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Air Force Hockey 2018-19 Record Book" (PDF). Air Force Falcons. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  2. ^ "Friday, March 23, 2018". College Hockey Stats. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  3. ^ "2017–18 Ice Hockey Roster". U.S. Air Force Academy Athletics. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  4. ^ "Air Force Falcons (Men) 2017-2018 Schedule and Results". College Hockey Stats. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  5. ^ "Air Force Academy 2017-2018 Skater Stats". Elite Prospects. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  6. ^ "USCHO Division I Men's Poll". USCHO.com. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  7. ^ "AWARDS - NCAA DEREK HINES UNSUNG HERO AWARD". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  8. ^ "Awards - NCAA (AHA) All-Tournament Team". EliteProspects. Retrieved April 25, 2018.