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

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.

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 »

Season

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

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

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
Player Position Nationality Cause
Matthew BurchillDefenseman United StatesTransferred to Norwich
Johnny HrabovskyDefenseman United StatesGraduation (retired)
A. J. ReidForward United StatesGraduation (retired)
Tyler RostenkowskiDefenseman United StatesLeft program
Shane StarrettGoaltender United StatesSigned professional contract (Bakersfield Condors)

Recruiting
Player Position Nationality Age Notes
Erik AndersonGoaltender United States21Chanhassen, MN
Marshall BoweryForward United States20Rochester Hills, MI
Max HarperForward United States21Rochester Hills, MI
Shawn KnowltonForward United States21Slingerlands, NY
Zach LaRocqueGoaltender United States20Arvada, CO
Jacob LevinDefenseman United States20Mequon, WI
Alex MehnertDefenseman United States20Moorhead, MN
Zachary MirageasDefenseman United States20Avon, OH
Walker SommerForward United States21Arvada, CO
Isaac TheisenForward United States21Monroe, MI
Will UlrichGoaltender United States21Bloomfield Hills, MI

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

[3]

Standings
2017–18 Atlantic Hockey men's standings
Conference record Overall record
GP W L T PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Mercyhurst2816843690813721124124111
Canisius28171103494763819172117108
Holy Cross2812106308070361316797100
Army281210630807036151569391
#14 Air Force *2813114307364432315511594
RIT28131412791903715202114127
Robert Morris28121332779784118203119118
American International2811134266375391520488116
Niagara2810153237690361122393123
Bentley289145237287371318696114
Sacred Heart2891542279963913224107135
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
DateTimeOpponent#Rank#SiteTVDecisionResultAttendanceRecord
Exhibition
October 2 6:05 PM vs. Lethbridge* #17 Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado  Christopoulos W 3–0  1,202
Regular Season
October 6 9:07 PM at Alaska* #17 Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska  Christopoulos W 3–2  2,195 1–0–0
October 7 9:07 PM at Alaska* #17 Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska  Christopoulos T 1–1 3x3 OTL 2,649 1–0–1
October 13 7:05 PM vs. Arizona State* #19 Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado  Christopoulos W 4–3  2,494 2–0–1
October 14 7:05 PM vs. Arizona State* #19 Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado  Christopoulos L 3–2  2,437 3–0–1
October 20 6:07 PM at Bemidji State* #20 Sanford Center • Bemidji, Minnesota  Christopoulos L 1–4  2,822 3–1–1
October 21 6:07 PM at Bemidji State* #20 Sanford Center • Bemidji, Minnesota  Christopoulos W 5–1  2,902 4–1–1
October 27 5:35 PM at Canisius #18 LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York  Christopoulos L 3–1  846 5–1–1 (1–0–0)
October 28 5:35 PM at Canisius #18 LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York  Christopoulos L 2–3  580 5–2–1 (1–1–0)
November 3 7:05 PM vs. Army #19 Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado  Christopoulos L 2–3  3,326 5–3–1 (1–2–0)
November 4 7:35 PM vs. Army #19 Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado  Christopoulos L 0–2  2,477 5–4–1 (1–3–0)
November 10 5:05 PM at Holy Cross Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts  Christopoulos L 0–3  1,164 5–5–1 (1–4–0)
November 11 5:05 PM at Holy Cross Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts  Christopoulos T 3–3 OT 1,383 5–5–2 (1–4–1)
November 17 7:05 PM vs. RIT Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado  Christopoulos W 4–3  1,875 6–5–2 (2–4–1)
November 18 7:05 PM vs. RIT Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado  Christopoulos L 2–3  2,013 6–6–2 (2–5–1)
November 25 5:05 PM at Sacred Heart Webster Bank Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut  Christopoulos T 3–3 OT 201 6–6–3 (2–5–2)
November 26 10:30 AM at Sacred Heart Webster Bank Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut  Christopoulos W 5–3  161 7–6–3 (3–5–2)
December 1 7:05 PM vs. Niagara Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado  Christopoulos L 3–6  1,974 7–7–3 (3–6–2)
December 2 5:05 PM vs. Niagara Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado  Christopoulos L 2–5  1,687 7–8–3 (3–7–2)
December 29 7:05 PM vs. Colorado College* Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (Battle for Pikes Peak)  Christopoulos W 6–3  2,921 8–8–3
December 30 7:05 PM at #2 Denver* Magness Arena • Denver, ColoradoAltitude2 Christopoulos L 0–6  6,281 8–9–3
January 5 7:05 PM vs. Mercyhurst Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado  Christopoulos L 0–1  2,148 8–10–3 (3–8–2)
January 6 5:05 PM vs. Mercyhurst Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado  Christopoulos W 5–1  1,909 9–10–3 (4–8–2)
January 12 5:05 PM at RIT Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York  Christopoulos W 2–1  1,581 10–10–3 (5–8–2)
January 13 5:05 PM at RIT Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York  Christopoulos W 4–0  2,543 11–10–3 (6–8–2)
January 19 7:05 PM vs. Sacred Heart Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado  Christopoulos L 1–2  2,277 11–11–3 (6–9–2)
January 26 5:05 PM at Niagara Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York  Christopoulos W 4–2  708 12–11–3 (7–9–2)
January 27 7:05 PM at Niagara Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York  Christopoulos W 5–3  736 13–11–3 (8–9–2)
February 2 7:05 PM vs. American International Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado  Christopoulos W 3–0  2,236 14–11–3 (9–9–2)
February 3 5:05 PM vs. American International Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado  Christopoulos T 2–2 OT 2,153 14–11–4 (9–9–3)
February 9 5:05 PM at Bentley Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts  Christopoulos L 0–2  578 14–12–4 (9–10–3)
February 10 5:05 PM at Bentley Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts  Christopoulos W 4–2  480 15–12–4 (10–10–3)
February 13 10:00 AM vs. Sacred Heart People's United Center • Hamden, Connecticut  Christopoulos L 1–2 OT 116 15–13–4 (10–11–3)
February 16 7:05 PM vs. Canisius Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado  Christopoulos W 7–4  2,217 16–13–4 (11–11–3)
February 16 5:05 PM vs. Canisius Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado  Christopoulos W 3–2  2,377 17–13–4 (12–11–3)
February 23 5:05 PM at Robert Morris Colonials Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania  Christopoulos W 1–0  892 18–13–4 (13–11–3)
February 24 5:15 PM at Robert Morris Colonials Arena • Neville 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 Rink • West 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 Rink • West 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 Rink • West 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 Arena • Rochester, New York (Atlantic Hockey semifinal)  Christopoulos W 3–0  587 21–14–5
March 17 5:35 PM vs. Robert Morris* Blue Cross Arena • Rochester, 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 Center • Sioux 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 Center • Sioux 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
Name Position Games Goals Assists Points PIM
Erik BaskinF4316122812
Tyler LedfordF306182410
Evan GieslerF4212112331
Jordan HimleyF3711122316
Matt SerratoreF381482233
Matt KochD373151814
Brady TomlakC375121722
Phil BojeD392151718
Zack MirageasD412151757
Ben KuceraC38491314
Trevor StoneC/LW39491314
Kyle HaakF29751222
Marshall BoweryF308192
Erich JaegerF3427923
Pierce PluemerLW343588
Jonathan KopackaD3134710
Dan BaileyD3816714
Alex MehnertD152466
Jake LevinD2124614
Dylan AboodD3515616
Walker SommerC181454
Kyle MackeyD1922420
Matt PulverF202134
Joe TyranD232139
Max HarperF50112
Billy ChristopoulosG430112
Evan FenoF10000
Zack LaRocqueG20000
Bench-----20
Total115187302417

[5]

Goaltending statistics
Name Games Minutes Wins Losses Ties Goals Against Saves Shut Outs SV % GAA
Billy Christopoulos432534231558710265.9222.06
Zach LaRocque2530003210.8753.36
Empty Net-26---4----
Total432614231559410475.9182.16

Rankings
Main article: 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings
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
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
  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 2018-04-26.
  8. "Awards - NCAA (AHA) All-Tournament Team". EliteProspects. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.