Falcons host Holy Cross, Jan. 22-23
1/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Jan. 19, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format 
This Week Air Force (11-8-5, 9-4-5 AHA) hosts the Holy Cross Crusaders (5-13-5, 4-9-4 AHA), Friday-Saturday, Jan. 22-23,at 7:05 p.m. MT at Cadet Ice Arena. Air Force is in sole possession of first place with 27 points. Holy Cross is eighth with 12 points
Radio/Internet Both games will be broadcast in Colorado Springs on The Sports Animal AM 1300 and on the internet at GoAirForceFalcons.com. Pregame show is at 6:35 p.m. MST with faceoff at 7:05 p.m. MST each day. Both games will be video streamed with audio by the B2 Network on a subscription basis. For more information,please go to AtlanticHockeyOnline.com
The Coaches Air Force coach Frank Serratore (Bemidji State, 1982) is in his 13th season as the Falcons' head coach. He has led the Falcons to three straight conference championships and NCAA Tournament berths. Winningest coach in the history of Air Force hockey with a record of 209-218-37 (13th year at AFA) and a career mark of 258-310-46 (17th year). Holy Cross coach Paul Pearl (Holy Cross, 1989) has a 219-222-52 school and overall record in his 15th season
Offensive Outbreak Air Force has struggled scoring goals this season and recently that fact has cost the Falcons games. Prior to the Bentley series, Air Force had scored 10 goals in the previous six games and the Falcons were 1-3-2 in those games. However, Air Force scored nine goals in two games at Bentley in the two-game sweep last week Early in the season, the Falcon offense sputtered against Holy Cross, Nov. 13-14, AFA scored just three goals in two games and earned a win and a tie. For the season, Air Force is averaging just 2.71 goals per game to rank 40th in the nation of 58 teams. When Air Force scores three or more goals, the Falcons are 9-1-2. When AFA scores two or less, the Falcons are just 2-7-3
Penalty Kill No. 1 in the Nation The penalty kill is No. 1 in the nation at 90.3 percent, killing 102 of 113 this season. AFA killed 12 of 13 Bentley power plays last week. Sixteen times (in 24 games) Air Force has held its opponents without a power play goal. Just three times have the Falcons allowed more than one PPG
Scouting the Holy Cross Crusaders Holy Cross is 5-13-5 overall and 4-9-4 for eighth place in Atlantic Hockey. Junior Everett Sheen leads the team with eight goals 15 points. Just two player have scored more than nine points this season. Freshman Thomas Tysowsky is the team's top goalie, playing nearly 90 percent of the minutes this season. He leads the league with a .919 saves percentage and is second with a 2.19 GAA in all games Holy Cross opened the season with a 3-3-1 record in the first seven games. Since giving up three points to Air Force in November, the Crusaders are 2-12-1.Despite just five wins, the Crusaders own road wins at Sacred Heart (the nation's hottest team with a seven- game unbeaten streak) and Dartmouth this season
A Pattern over the Last Three Years Air Force's recent slide matches a pattern that has been consistent over the last four years. Each year, Air Force has struggled in December and January only to rebound in February and March. Each year the slide has involved less games. This season has followed the pattern, but only time will tell if the Falcons finish the same way they have each of the last three years.In 2006-07, from the beginning of December to the middle of February, AFA was 5-8-4 (17 games). The Falcons rebounded to go 6-0 before a loss to Minnesota in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In 2007-08, from the middle of December to early February, AFA was 3-6-4 (13 games). The Falcons bounced back to go 10-1 before falling in overtime to Miami in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In 2008-09, from the middle of December to late January, AFA was 1-5-1 (seven games). AFA went 13-3 in the final 16 games before a double-overtime loss to Vermont in the NCAA Elite Eight. This season, AFA was 1-3-2 (six games) from the beginning of December to the middle of January. Since getting swept at Sacred Heart, AFA is unbeaten in its last four games.
First Goal is the Big Goal Air Force is 9-1-2 when it scores the first goal of the game. AFA is 1-7-2 when allowing the first goal. Air Force has scored first in each of the last four games and the Falcons are 3-0-1 in those games.The game in which Air Force scored first and lost was a 4-1 loss at Sacred Heart, Jan. 2
