Falcons host Beavers in CHA series
2/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Feb. 23, 2004
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This Week: Air Force plays its final home series of the season this weekend at the Cadet Ice Arena (2,502). The Falcons (12-18-2, 4-11-1 CHA) host the league-leading Bemidji State Beavers (16-11-3, 13-2-1 CHA), Friday-Saturday, Feb. 27-28. The faceoff is at 7:05 p.m. MST each night.
Radio/Television: Both games can be heard on the radio, internet and telephone. The game will be broadcast live in Colorado Springs on KBZC AM 1300. No television.
Series Records: Air Force and Bemidji State have played 20 times and the Beavers hold a 13-5-2 lead in the series that began in 1997. The Beavers have won six straight and have a nine-game unbeaten streak against the Falcons. AFA's last win was a 5-4 overtime victory in Bemidji in 2001. Air Force has won four of the seven games played at the Academy. However, BSU has won the last four three games played at Air Force.
Scouting the Opponents: Bemidji State is in first place in the CHA with 27 points and a 13-2-1 record. The Beavers are 16-11-3 overall this season and have clinched a bye in the first round of the CHA Tournament. BSU took three of four points from Alabama-Huntsville last weekend in Minnesota with a 3-3 tie and a 4-2 victory. Brendan Cook leads the team with 20 goals and 33 points. Tom Serratore (Bemidji State, 1987) is in his third season at BSU with a school and career record of 42-43-16.
Earlier This Season vs. Bemidji State: Bemidji State swept Air Force, 3-1 and 5-1, Jan. 2-3. In the first game, Bemidji State scored three second-period goals. Air Force got on the board first as Shane Saum scored from Steve Mead and Mike Knaeble on the power play at 2:28 of the first period. The Beavers dominated the second period by scoring three goals and outshooting the Falcons, 13-1. BSU outshot Air Force, 29-22, in the game. In the second game, Bemidji State scored two goals in the first period and two in the second for a 5-1 win at the Hodgins-Berardo Arena in Coleraine, Minn. BSU forward Jean-Guy Gervais scored 54 seconds into the game. The Beavers scored two more goals in the second period and built a 4-0 lead. Early in the third period, AFA freshman Brandon Merkosky made the score 4-1 but BSU added a goal with 18 seconds remaining.
Final Home Game for Seniors: Six Falcon seniors will be playing their final games at the Cadet Ice Arena this weekend. Spanky Leonard, Shane Saum, Tom Starkey, Adam Larson, Buck Kozlowski and Mike Polidor have combined to play in 595 games. Starkey has played in 133 while Leonard has played in 130 and Saum in 129. Polidor has played in 92, Kozlowski in 90 and Larson in 21. The group has won 54 games in the last four years.
Family Affair: Frank and Tom Serratore are one of just three combinations in any Division I sport where family members coach against each other in the same sport in the same conference. Florida State?s Bobby Bowden and his son Tommy, head football coach at Clemson, coach against each other in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Brothers Joseph (Columbia) and James Jones (Yale) coach men's basketball in the Ivy League. Since becoming BSU?s head coach for the 2001-02 season, the younger Serratore has led the Beavers to a 8-0-1 record against his older brother Frank and the Falcons.
Division I Wins: Air Force is playing its first all-Division I schedule in school history and the team has won 12 Division I games this season. The Falcons need just two more wins to tie the school record of 14 set twice, both times under Frank Serratore (1999-00 and 2001-02). In his seven seasons, Serratore has led Air Force to more Division I wins than any other AFA coach. Serratore has won 81 Division I games while Chuck Delich is second with 49.
On Deck: Following the Bemidji State series, the Falcons conclude the regular season at Wayne State. The Falcons and Warriors play March 5-6 at Compuware Arena in Plymouth, Mich.
Last Week: Niagara swept Air Force, 4-1 and 5-1, at Dwyer Arena in Niagara, N.Y. Niagara remained in second place in the league while Air Force fell into a tie for fourth place.
