Falcons host RIT in conference series
10/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 31, 2006
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This Week: Air Force (3-5, 1-1 AHA) returns to the home ice to host conference foe RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) (3-3-1, 3-0 AHA), Friday-Saturday, Nov. 3-4, at the Cadet Ice Arena (2,502).
Radio/Television/Internet: No television or Air Force radio for either game.
Scouting the Opponents: RIT (Rochester, N.Y.) is in its first season in the Atlantic Hockey Association. The Tigers are 3-3-1 overall this season and 3-0 in the AHA. Junior forward Simon Lambert leads the team in scoring with 10 points (2-8-10). Junior Jocelyn Guimond has a 93.6 saves percentage and a 2.35 GAA. The Tigers swept AIC two weeks ago, 8-3 and 8-0. Last weekend, RIT beat Canisius, 4-2, and then lost to Cornell, 5-3.
The Coaches: Air Force coach Frank Serratore (Bemidji State, 1982) is in his 10th season at Air Force and his 14th as a collegiate head coach. He has a 132-177-19 record at AFA and an overall mark of 181-269-28. RIT coach Wayne Wilson is in his eighth season with the Tigers with a school and overall record of 128-56-18.
Last Meeting: Air Force and RIT played four times last season with the Falcons holding a 2-1-1 advantage. RIT beat the Falcons in the first meeting, 5-2, at the Q Cup. AFA led 2-1 midway through the second period, but RIT scored the final four goals of the game. RIT broke a 2-2 tie with a power-play goal early in the third period. The Tigers added two empty-net goals in the final 90 seconds. The Falcons took three points in a series at the Academy in December. AFA scored three first-period goals and held on for a 3-2 win in the first game. The teams skated to a 2-2 overtime tie in the second game as RIT tied the game with 3:15 left in the third period. The final game last season came at RIT in February as Air Force won a 3-2 overtime decision. AFA led 2-0 early in the third period, but RIT came back to tie the game with 24 seconds remaining. Brian Reese's goal, his second of the game, in overtime was the game-winner.
Series Record: Air Force and RIT have met nine times and the series is dead even at 4-4-1. Eight of the 10 games have been played at Air Force and the teams are 3-3-1 at the Academy. Air Force is 2-0-1 vs. RIT in the last three games.
Fly in and Play: In the 10 years under Frank Serratore, the Falcons have twice gotten off of an airplane and played that night and both times the Falcons have won. On opening weekend of the 2003-04 season, the Falcons traveled back from the Q Cup in Connecticut and played an exhibition game with British Columbia. Air Force won 8-6. Last week, the Falcons played Alabama-Huntsville under different circumstances. Due to the blizzard that hit Colorado on Oct. 26, the Falcons were unable to fly to Tampa that day. The team left Denver eight hours late and spent the night in Atlanta. The next morning, the Falcons made the one-hour flight to Tampa, arriving at 8:30 a.m. and playing at 5:05 p.m. AFA won the game, 7-5.
Top Line: The Falcons' top line of center Eric Ehn, left winger Andrew Ramsey and right winger Mike Phillipich have combined for 18 of the team's 26 goals and 42 of the team's 75 points this season. Ehn has 18 points (10-8-18) while Ramsey has 13 points (5-8-13) and Phillipich has 11 points (3-8-11).
Around the Nation: Several Falcons rank among the national leaders in various categories. Junior center Eric Ehn is leading the nation in points (18, 2.25 per game) and goals (10) and is third in power-play goals (4). Ehn, Andrew Ramsey and Mike Phillipich are tied for 23rd in the nation in assists per game (1.00). Ramsey is also 21st in points per game (1.62), tied for 14th in power-play goals (3) and is tied for first in game-winning goals (2). Phillipich is tied for 47th in the nation in points per game (1.38).
Put the Biscuit in the Basket: Air Force has scored four or more goals in five of the eight games this season. In all of last season, the Falcons scored four or more just six times. Despite getting shutout twice this season, Air Force is averaging 3.25 goals per game, fourth in the conference and 23rd in the nation.
Even Strength Solid: Air Force has been solid this season at even-strength. The Falcons have out-scored their opponents, 16-11, even strength this season. AFA scored a season-high five even-strength goals in the 5-1 win over Bentley. However, the Falcons have allowed 17 power-play goals and two short-handed goals in eight games this season.
No Shots for You: Air Force has picked up right where it left off last season as far as denying its opponent many shots. Last season, Air Force was among the national leaders, allowing just 24.9 shots per game. The national average last season was 29. The Falcons held their opponents to 20 or less shots in six of the last 11 games last season. In the first two games this season, the Falcons held 13th-ranked Colorado College and Alabama-Huntsville both to under 20 shots. CC had 19 shots while UAH had 18. In eight games this season, the Falcons have held their opponents to just 24.1 shots per game.
Tough Schedule: Air Force's schedule features six teams a total of 11 times that are listed in the current USCHO top 20 poll or receiving votes. Notre Dame is currently 10th and Denver is 15th. Alaska, Colorado College, Holy Cross and RIT are all receiving votes. In the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll, Notre Dame is 10th while Denver and Holy Cross are receiving votes.
On Deck: Following the RIT series, Air Force hits the road for a two-game AHA series at Canisius, Nov. 11-12, in Buffalo, N.Y.
Last Week: Air Force placed second at the first annual Lightning College Hockey Classic in Tampa. Air Force beat Alabama-Huntsville, 7-5, in the first game and lost to 11th-ranked Notre Dame, 2-0, in the championship. Eric Ehn had six points and Andrew Ramsey scored the game-winner with 1:27 remaining as Air Force beat Alabama-Huntsville, 7-5, Friday. In the championship game, Notre Dame goalie David Brown stopped all 28 shots he faced as the Irish defeated Air Force, 2-0.
