Falcons face Findlay in first round
3/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
March 9, 2004
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This Week: Fifth-seeded Air Force (14-20-2, 6-13-1 CHA) faces fourth-seeded Findlay (10-21-5, 7-11-2) in the first round of the fifth annual College Hockey America Tournament, March 12, at the Tri-City Arena in Kearney, Neb. Faceoff is at 3:05 p.m. CST. The tournament is hosted by Kearney Hockey, Inc., and the Air Force Academy. All six CHA teams qualify for the single-elimination tournament. The winner of the Air Force-Findlay game plays top-seeded Bemidji State, March 13.
Radio/Television: All of Air Force's games in the CHA Tournament can be heard on the radio, internet and telephone. The game will be broadcast live in Colorado Springs on KBZC AM 1300. The championship game of the tournament, Sunday, Mar. 14, at 7:05 p.m. CST will be broadcast on College Sports Television.
Tournament Pairings: Top-seeded Bemidji State and second-seeded Niagara have byes in the first round of the tournament. Third-seeded Alabama-Huntsville plays No. 6 seed Wayne State, March 12, at 7:05 p.m. The winner of that game will play No. 2 seed Niagara, March 13. Fourth-seeded Findlay plays fifth-seeded Air Force March 12 at 3:05 p.m. The winner plays No. 1 seed Bemidji State, March 13.
Automatic Berth: For the second time in the five-year history of the league, the CHA will receive an automatic berth in the 16-team NCAA Championships. The tournament champion will receive the automatic bid and will play in the NCAA Regionals the weekend of March 26-28.
Second Time in Kearney: This year marks the second straight season the CHA Tournament will be held at the Tri-City Arena in Kearney, Neb. It is also the second time in the five-year history of the league that the tourney will be played on neutral ice. The first two CHA Tournaments were played at Alabama-Huntsville. The 2001-02 tournament was held at Niagara.
AFA Ties Division I Wins Record: Air Force is playing its first all-Division I schedule in school history and the team has won 14 Division I games this season. The Falcons tied the school record for Division I wins in a season. The record has been accomplished three times (1999-00, 2001-02 and 2003-04), all three under Frank Serratore. In his seven seasons, Serratore has led Air Force to more Division I wins than any other AFA coach. Serratore has won 83 Division I games while Chuck Delich is second with 49. CHA Tournament Record: Air Force is 3-6 in the five-year history of the CHA Tournament. The Falcons won one game in the first three CHA Tournaments, twice beating Findlay and once beating Niagara on its home ice. Last season's loss to eventual tournament champion Wayne State marked the first time the Falcons had been ousted after just one game. Air Force is 2-0 against Findlay in CHA Tournament play.
Sweep at Wayne: Air Force's sweep at Wayne State marked the first time the Falcons have swept a road series from a current CHA team. The Falcons had taken three points on the road several times, most recently at Findlay earlier this season. However, the road sweep is the second CHA road sweep as the Falcons took two from Army at West Point in 1999-2000. That season, Army was a member of the CHA.
Six League Wins Ties Best Ever: Air Force's six conference wins this season ties as the team's best ever. The 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02 teams also won six games. AFA's 13 league points this season are the third most in the five-year history of the CHA. AFA had 16 points in 2000-01 and 14 points in 2001-02.
Road Success: Air Force is 8-11-2 on the road this season. The eight road wins are the second most in school history and the most since AFA won 11 road games in 1971-72. Serratore has been a master at getting his teams prepared to play on the road. Prior to Serratore taking over the Falcons in 1997-98, AFA won just eight road games in six years. Under the seventh-year coach, the Falcons have won 35 road games. In the last 110 road games, the Falcons are 35-70-7 (35 percent). The team has won seven road games in a season twice under his tenure (1999-00 and 2001-02).
Positive Finish: Air Force is one of just two CHA teams to finish better than its predicted finish in the preseason CHA coaches poll. Bemidji State was picked to win the league and Niagara picked to finish season and the both did. UAH was picked to finish third and they did. Findlay was picked fifth and the Oilers finished fourth. Air Force was picked sixth and the Falcons placed fifth. Wayne State was picked fourth and the Warriors finished sixth.
Serratore Accustomed to Strong Finishes: In the five-year history of the CHA Tournament, the Falcons have entered the tournament on a winning note in four of the five seasons. The only time Air Force lost its final regular-season game in the last five years was last season's 2-0 loss to Bemidji State. In the seven seasons under Frank Serratore, Air Force is 5-2 in the final regular-season game of the season.
On Deck: If Air Force wins the CHA Tournament, the Falcons will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. The Falcons would have a week off as the NCAA Regionals are March 26-28. The NCAA Tournament is comprised of 16 teams with six automatic berths and 10 at-large bids. There are four sites with four teams at each regional. The four winners of the regionals advance to the Frozen Four at the Fleet Center in Boston, April 8-10. If the Falcons do not win the CHA Tournament, the season is over.
Last Week: Air Force swept Wayne State in the final regular-season series of the season at the CompuWare Arena in Detroit, Mich., March 5-6. The Falcons won by scores of 6-4 and 3-1.
