Volkening Named to NCAA Skills Challenge; Fairchild named an alternate
3/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
March 10, 2010
USAFA, Colo. - Air Force senior goaltender Andrew Volkening has been named to the 2010 NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge West Team. The skill challenge is Friday, April 9, at Ford Field in Detroit. Air Force senior forward Matt Fairchild is an alternate and could be selected if a student-athlete on the team is not able to attend. Individuals on teams that advance to the NCAA Frozen Four are not eligible for the skills challenge.
Volkening's selection marks the fourth consecutive year that a Falcon has been in the event. Air Force is the only team in the nation to have a men's competitor in each of the last four years. Andrew Ramsey competed in 2007 in St. Louis, Eric Ehn in 2008 in Denver and Greg Flynn in 2009 in Washington D.C. Ehn and Flynn both took home MVP honors at the event.
From Genoa, Ill., Volkening holds nearly every goaltending record at the Air Force Academy including games played in a season (41 in 2008-09) and career (124), shutouts in a season (6 in 2008-09) and career (14), wins in a season (28 in 2008-09) and career (67), goals -against average in a season (2.09 in 2008-09) and career (2.22), and saves percentage in a season (.920 in 2008-09) and career (.914). His 2,817 saves are the third most in school history. He has been the goaltender on the AHA all-tournament team three times and on the NCAA Regional all-tournament teams twice. A first-team all-conference selection last season and a preseason All-American this year, Volkening has started every game this season and ranks third in Atlantic Hockey this season with a 2.54 goals against average and a .914 saves percentage.
Volkening is one of three Atlantic Hockey Association players selected for the skills challenge. RIT goaltender Jared DeMichiel and Army forward Owen Meyer will compete for the East Team. Volkening is joined on the West Team by Northern Michigan goalie Brian Stewart, Cody Chupp from Ferris State, Zach Harrison from Minnesota State Mankato, Steven Kampfer from Michigan, Kyle Lawson from Notre Dame, Tony Lucia from Minnesota and Chris McKelvie from Bemidji State.
The Frozen Four Skills Challenge will be held April 9 at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., and will highlight the "Friday Night at the Frozen Four". The night will also include the presentation of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, the Hockey Humanitarian Award and the announcement of the American Hockey Coaches Association All-American teams.
Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by calling Ticket Master at 800/745-3000, or by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com. --30--
