Falcons open season with two exhibition games
9/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Sept. 29, 2011
Release vs Simon Fraser/McGill 
Falcons Open 2011-12 Season AFA faces Simon Fraser University (British Columbia) in an exhibition game on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 5:35 p.m. at Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee, Wash. The Falcons return home for an exhibition game against McGill University (Montreal) on Monday, Oct. 3, at 6:05 p.m. at the Academy's Cadet Ice Arena. Air Force opens the regular season at the annual Icebreaker Classic in Grand Forks, N.D. AFA faces third-ranked North Dakota on Friday, Oct. 7, at 7:37 p.m. at Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks. The Falcons will then face either fifth-ranked Boston College or Michigan State on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 4:07 p.m. Air Force opens the home and league schedule on Friday, Oct. 14, when the Falcons host Niagara at 7:05 p.m. at the Cadet Ice Arena.
A Look Back Air Force closed out the 2010-11 season with a 20-12-6 overall record. Air Force was ranked 18th in the final USCHO.com poll and received votes in the USA Hockey/USA Today poll. The Falcons won the AHA Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in the last five years. AFA placed second in the AHA regular season with a 14-7-6 record and 34 points, three points behind regular-season champion RIT. AFA earned a bye in the first round of the playoffs and then swept Sacred Heart in two games in the quarterfinals. The Falcons beat third-seeded Holy Cross, 3-2, in the semifinals and then blanked RIT, 1-0, the championship game. AFA's season ended with a 2-1 overtime loss to Yale, the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, in the NCAA East Regional in Bridgeport, Conn.
The Coach Head coach Frank Serratore enters his 15th season at the Air Force against with a record of 234-239-44 record. He is the winningest coach in the history of Air Force hockey, having led Air Force to four AHA championships and four NCAA Tournaments in the last five years. In his 19th season as a collegiate head coach, he has an overall record of 283-331-53.
Who's Back Air Force returns nine of its top 11 scorers, five of its top six defenseman and the starting goalie from last season. Junior Kyle DeLaurell and John Kruse are the top two returning scorers. DeLaurell scored 33 points (10-23-33) last season while Kruse had 29 (11-18-29). Senior team captain Paul Weisgarber is the top returning goal scorer with 13 last season (25 points). Seniors Tim Kirby and Scott Mathis key the defense. Mathis was a first-team all-league selection as he had 27 points (8-19-27) last season. Kirby was a third-team all-league selection with 23 point (7-16-23). Sophomore Jason Torf started the final 29 games last season and was named to the all-rookie team and the AHA all-tournament team. His 16 wins were the second most in the nation by a freshman last season. He finished with a 2.87 GAA and a .909 saves percentage.
