Falcons host Radisson North Hockey Classic
12/2/2002 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Dec. 2, 2002
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This Week: Air Force (5-9, 2-4 CHA) hosts the fifth annual Radisson North Hockey Classic at the Cadet Ice Arena, Dec. 6-7. The schedule is below:
Fri. Dec. 6 3:05 p.m. Augsburg vs. Milwaukee School of Engineering Fri. Dec. 6 7:05 p.m. Air Force vs. Wisconsin-Stout Sat. Dec. 7 3:05 p.m. Wisconsin-Stout vs. Augsburg or MSOE Sat. Dec. 7 7:05 p.m. Air Force vs. Augsburg vs. MSOE
Tournament Format: Air Force will play the 7:05 p.m. game both nights regardless of Friday's outcome. Wisconsin-Stout will play at 3:05 p.m. on Saturday. If Air Force wins on Friday, the 7:05 p.m. game will be the championship game vs. the winner of Friday's Augsburg/MSOE game. If Air Force loses on Friday, the 3:05 p.m. game will be the championship game with Wisconsin-Stout facing the winner of the Augsburg/MSOE game.
Radio/Television/Internet: No radio, internet or television for the tournament.
Toy Trick: For the third consecutive year, the Air Force hockey team will help brighten the holiday season for area children. At the fifth annual Radisson North Hockey Classic, Dec. 6-7, fans can bring a new stuffed toy, wrapped in plastic, and receive one free child's admission (18 and under). When the Falcons score their first goal in each game, fans can throw the stuffed toy on the ice. The toys need to be wrapped to protect them when they are thrown on the ice. The free admission is for kids only, but fans of all ages are encouraged to participate. The toy trick and free admission will be offered for both sessions of the tournament. The toys will be collected and then distributed to children in local hospitals and clinics during the holiday season. In the first two years of the Toy Trick, the team collected and distributed more than 800 toys.
Scouting the Opponents: Wisconsin-Stout (Menomonie, Wis.) is a Division III member of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association. The Blue Devils are 3-7 overall this season and have won just one of their last eight. The team's victories have come against Lawrence (twice) and Hamline. UWS is coached by Terry Watkins who is in his seventh season at the school with a 59-107-6 record. Freshman forward Justin Huth leads the team with five goals. Junior forward Dan Winkler has seven points. Junior goalie Jeff Dotson is the top goaltender with nine games played, a .919 saves percentage and a 3.40 goals against average. Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) (Milwaukee, Wis.) is a Division III member of the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association. The Raiders are 0-6-2 overall this season with ties coming against Northland and Minnesota-Crookston. MSOE is coached by Mark Ostapina who is in his 16th season as a collegiate head coach and his second season at the school. His overall career record is 71-107-10 while his record at MSOE is 8-23-2. Freshman forward James Shipley leads the team with five goals and six points. Marcus Feferman and Adam Blomfield have split time between the pipes. Augsburg College (Minneapolis, Minn.) is a Division III member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Auggies are 6-3 overall this season and have won six of their last seven. The team has swept Gustavus Adolphus and Marian and has defeated Concordia and Wisconsin-Superior. The team is coached by Mike Schwartz who is in his sixth season at the school with an 88-65-18 record. Senior forward Jaro Cesky leads the team with eight goals and 17 points in nine games. Brady Fougner has 11 assists and 12 points. Erik Young and Peter Samargia have split time in the net.
Series Records: Air Force and MSOE have never played. Air Force and Augsburg have played 25 times and the Falcons hold a 21-4 lead in the series that began in 1973. The last 24 games of the series have been played at the Academy. AFA has won 14 straight in the series. Augsburg's last win came in 1983, a 6-5 victory at Air Force. That win capped three straight wins over the Falcons by the Auggies. The teams have not played since the 2000-01 season when the Falcons swept by scores of 4-1 and 7-1. Air Force and Wisconsin-Stout have played eight times and the Falcons hold a 7-1 lead in the series that began in 1976. Air Force has won six straight. Stout's last win was a 4-3 overtime decision in 1976 in Wisconsin. The teams have not played since the 1998-99 season when the Falcons swept by scores of 3-2 and 5-1.
Tournament History: Head coach Frank Serratore began the Classic in his second season at Air Force. Air Force has won the tournament twice, placed second once and third once.
Last Season's Tournament: Air Force won the fourth annual classic with victories over Manhattanville (6-3) and New England College (9-2). Brian Rodgers scored four points in the win over Manhattanville. Tom Starkey scored his first career hat trick against New England College. Rodgers was named the tournament MVP as he had six points on three goals and three assists. Other Falcons named to the all-tourney team were goalie Mike Polidor and defenseman Joe Locallo.
National Leaders: Andy Berg is tied for fourth in the nation with 12 goals and is 21st in the nation in points with 19. Berg is also tied for second in the nation with seven power-play goals. Mike Polidor is fourth in the nation with 809 minutes played.
Last Week: Air Force lost a pair of 7-0 games to sixth-ranked Colorado College and fifth-ranked Denver.
On Deck: Air Force will break for finals and the holidays. The Falcons are off until Dec. 28-29 at Fairfield (Conn.).
