Serratore, Carey earn Atlantic Hockey awards
3/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
WATCH: Carey interview | WATCH: Serratore interview
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Air Force earned more awards at the Atlantic Hockey Conference reception on Thursday, March 17, at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y.
Head coach Frank Serratore was named the AHC Coach of the Year for the first time in his career. Serratore guided one of the nation's youngest teams, a team that was picked to finish seventh in the AHC preseason coaches' poll, to a second-place finish in the league and a spot in the AHC Final Four. Serratore is in his 19th season at Air Force is the winningest coach in Falcon hockey history. He has an Academy record of 329-309-71 and has led the Falcons to two AHC regular-season titles, five AHC tournament titles and five NCAA Tournaments in the last nine years.
Senior team captain Ben Carey was named the league's best defensive forward and earned the league's individual sportsmanship award. Carey, a center from Centennial, Colo., played in all 28 league games and plays in every situation (penalty kill, power play, extra-attacker offense and defense, etc.). In conference game only, he was called for only four penalties (eight minutes) all season, posted 20 points (9-11-20), was +6 and blocked 17 shots, the second most on the among the forwards.
Freshman Shane Starett was presented with the league's top goaltender award as his 1.68 goals-against average was the best in the league. He also tied for second with a .931 saves percentage. Starrett was a first-team all-conference selection and was selected to the all-rookie team. A native of Bellingham, Mass., he was the AHC Goalie of the Week four times this season, the Rookie of the Week once, the Goalie of the Month once and the Rookie of the Month once. His four shutouts this season were tied as the best in Atlantic Hockey and the ninth best in the nation.
In previous announcements, junior Johnny Hrabovsky, a native of Hummelstown, Pa., was named second-team all-conference and freshman Matt Serratore was named to the all-rookie team. Hrabovsky ranked third in the conference with a +14 in league games only by a defenseman. His six goals this season were tied for third in the league among blueliners while his 13 points were eighth in the league. Serratore's 10 goals in conference games were the second most of any freshman in the league. The winger from Bemidji, Minn., was tied for sixth with 16 points in conference games only
Second-seeded Air Force (20-11-5 overall, 16-7-5AHC) will face fifth-seeded RIT (16-14-6, 14-9-AHC) in the Atlantic Hockey semifinals, Friday, March 18, at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y.
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2015-16 Atlantic Hockey Regular Season Awards
All-Conference First Team
F - Zac Lynch, Robert Morris University
F - Greg Gibson, Robert Morris University
F - Max French, Bentley University
F - Shane Conacher, Canisius College
D - Chase Norrish, Rochester Institute of Technology
D - Lester Lancaster, Mercyhurst University
G - Shane Starrett, Air Force Academy
All-Conference Second Team
F - Justin Danforth, Sacred Heart University
F - Ralph Cuddemi, Canisius College
F - Andrew Gladiuk, Bentley University
D - Tyson Wilson, Robert Morris University
D - Johnny Hrabovsky, Air Force Academy
G - Parker Gahagen, Army West Point
All-Conference Third Team
F - Josh Mitchell, Rochester Institute of Technology
F - Brandon Denham, Robert Morris University
F - Derek Barach, Mercyhurst University
D - Brady Norrish, Rochester Institute of Technology
D - Chase Golightly, Robert Morris University
G - Terry Shafer, Robert Morris University
Gladiator Custom Mouthguards All-Rookie Team
F - Derek Barach, Mercyhurst University
F - Gabe Valenzuela, Rochester Institute of Technology
F - Matt Serratore, Air Force Academy
D - Lester Lancaster, Mercyhurst University
D - Tanner Jago, Bentley University
G - Shane Starrett, Air Force Academy
Scoring Trophy - Zac Lynch, Robert Morris University
Goaltending Trophy - Shane Starrett, Air Force Academy
Best Defensive Forward - Ben Carey, Air Force Academy
Best Defenseman - Chase Norrish, Rochester Institute of Technology
Individual Sportsmanship Award - Ben Carey, Air Force Academy
Rookie of the Year - Lester Lancaster, Mercyhurst University
Player of the Year - Zac Lynch, Robert Morris University
Coach of the Year - Frank Serratore, Air Force Academy
