Air Force hosts Calgary in exhibition game
10/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 4, 2007
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Air Force (0-0) vs. Calgary (4-1) Monday, Oct. 8, 7:05 p.m. MT, Cadet Ice Arena (2,502), USAFA, Colo.
Admission Admission is free to both the Calgary and USA Under 18 Team exhibition games.
Radio/Internet/Television No radio or television for the Calgary exhibition game. Live stats will be available at GoAirForceFalcons.com
Last Week AFA opens the season this week. Calgary split with Lethbridge, winning 3-2 at home and losing 3-2 on the road
Next Week Air Force hosts the U.S. National Development Under-18 Team on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 7:05 p.m.
Streaks Air Force opens the season this week
Last Meeting The University of Calgary visited the Air Force Academy last season and AFA won, 4-2
Rankings Air Force is receiving votes in both national polls. Air Force was 20th in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine with seven votes. The Falcons are 39th in the USCHO/CSTV poll with six votes.
Regular-Season Opener Air Force opens the 2007-08 regular season with a two-game series against Quinnipiac College (ECACHL) on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 19-20, at the Cadet Ice Arena.
First Time in Preseason Rankings For the first time in school history, the Air Force hockey team is receiving votes in both preseason national polls. The Falcons have received votes before, but never in the preseason poll. Air Force was 20th in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine with seven votes. The Falcons are 39th in the USCHO/CSTV poll with six votes.
Great Non-Conference Schedule Air Force plays six non-conference games this season. Including the Dodge Holiday Classic at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis, Minn., the Falcons have six potential opponents. All six teams are currently in the top 25 in the nation with two in the top five. The only team that is not ranked, but is receiving votes, is RIT (23rd/18th). Boston College (2/3), Minnesota (5/4), Colorado College (11/11), Denver (13/12) and Quinnipiac (14/15) create of the strongest non-conference schedules in the nation. Minnesota and RIT are potential opponents in the second game of the Minnesota tournament. The above rankings are listed as USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine/USCHO.com/CSTV.
A Look Back Air Force concluded the 2006-07 season with a 19-16-5 overall record. The season ended with a 4-3 loss to top-seeded Minnesota in the NCAA West Regional at Pepsi Center, March 24. The Falcons earned their first-ever conference championship when Air Force beat Army, 6-1, in the title game of the Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y.
Who's Back Air Force lost some key personnel from last season, but the Falcons will return much firepower for the 2007-08 season. Five of the top six scorers will return this season, including leading scorer Eric Ehn (24-40-64), No. 3 scorer Mike Phillipich (16-28-44), No. 4 scorer Jeff Hajner (13-14-27), No. 5 scorer Josh Schaffer (7-14-21) and No. 6 scorer, defenseman Michael Mayra (1-15-16). The Falcons return four of the top six defenseman and two goaltenders, Andrew Volkening and Ian Harper. AFA returns 69 percent of its goals and 72 percent of its point production. Of the team's three goals in the NCAA regional, two were scored by freshmen Hajner and Brett Nylander. Volkening started the AHA championship victory over Army and the NCAA Regional vs. second-ranked Minnesota. In AFA's last three games, the team had 14 goals and 26 assists. Of those 40 points, 31 points return next season (77 percent).
