Falcons travel to Mercyhurst for AHC series
1/3/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Jan. 3, 2017
This Week
Air Force (11-6-3, 8-3-1 AHC) continues its four-game conference road trip with a pair of games against Mercyhurst (8-10-1, 7-6-1 AHC), Friday-Saturday, Jan. 6-7, at 7:05 pm ET each night in Erie, Pa. Air Force is in second place in the AHC with 17 points while Mercyhurst is in fifth with 15 points.
The Streak
Air Force has won four straight games, all in conference play. The streak is the longest of the season and the longest since the Falcons won five straight during the 2014-15 season (Jan. 2-24 with wins over Niagara 1, Army 2 and AIC 2). That five-game winning streak ties as the longest wince the Falcons won eight straight late in the 2010-11 season. That streak ended in overtime against Yale in the NCAA East Regional.
Live Stream
Both games will be streamed on AtlanticHockey.tv for a subscription fee.
Radio/Internet
Both games will be broadcast on Xtra Sports 1300. Both games are available online at GoAirForceFalcons.com. Jay Ritchie will call the play-by-play while Dave Toller will provide color analysis. Pregame show begins 30 minutes before faceoff each day.
The Coach
Head coach Frank Serratore is in his 20th season at Air Force with a record of 340-316-74 (730 games). The 4-3 win over Arizona State, Oct. 14, was his 300th win over Division I teams while at Air Force. The 2016 AHC Coach of the Year, he is the winningest coach in the history of Air Force hockey, having led Air Force to two regular-season titles, five AHC tournament championships and five NCAA Tournaments in the last 10 years. In 24 seasons as a collegiate head coach, he has an overall record of 389-408-83 (880 games).
Scouting the Lakers
Mercyhurst is tied for fifth place in the league, 8-10-1 overall and 7-6-1 in the AHC. The Lakers are 2-1-1 in the last four games and placed third in the Mariucci Classic last week. After a 5-1 loss to Minnesota, the Lakers defeated Alabama-Huntsville, 3-2 in overtime, in the consolation game. Three of Mercyhurst's last four games have gone into overtime and The Lakers are 2-0-1 in those games. Both games against Robert Morris, Dec. 17-18, went into overtime and the Lakers took three points. Sophomore forward Derek Barach leads the team with 16 assists and 20 points. Junior Jonathan Charbonneau leads the team with 10 goals. Junior Brandon Wildung and Colin DeAugustine have split time in goal. However, recently, DeAugustine has seen the most action, starting six of last seven. DeAugustine has the best numbers with a 2.64 GAA, a .925 saves percentage and a 5-3-1 record.
Trending
Sophomore Evan Giesler has a five-game point streak, the longest by any player this season ... He has scored in nine of the last 10 games and has 12 points (5-7-12) in those games .. Kyle Haak leads the team with seven goals and 17 points ... Haak has a point in six of the last seven games ... Evan Feno leads the team with 11 assists ... Phil Boje is the top scoring defenseman with 15 points (5-10-15) points ... Boje also leads the team with 32 blocked shots ... Jordan Himley leads the team with nine goals and is fourth with 14 points ... In his last 12 games, he has eight goals and 10 points ... Tyler Ledford had two points (1-1-2) in the win over Sacred Heart (Dec. 30), ending a streak of 12 games without a point and 13 games without a goal ... A.J. Reid scored the game-winner on Dec. 30 vs. Sacred Heart, ending a streak of 12 games without a goal ... Tyler Ledford leads the team with 158 faceoff wins ... Brady Tomlak's 63.5 faceoff winning percentage is the best on the team.
Series vs. the Lakers
Air Force and Mercyhurst have played 31 times and Air Force leads the series, 15-13-3. In games played in Erie, Air Force holds a 7-5-2 advantage against the Lakers. In the last seven games in Erie, each team has won three with one tie. Twenty-four of the 31 games have been decided by two goals or less. The series has been tight since its beginning in 2007 as just twice during the series has a team won more than two straight games (Mercyhurst won three in 2007 and Air Force won three in 2014). Last season, the teams split a two-game series in Erie. Air Force won the first game, 5-4 in overtime, while the Lakers won game two, 3-1.
Air Force (11-6-3, 8-3-1 AHC) continues its four-game conference road trip with a pair of games against Mercyhurst (8-10-1, 7-6-1 AHC), Friday-Saturday, Jan. 6-7, at 7:05 pm ET each night in Erie, Pa. Air Force is in second place in the AHC with 17 points while Mercyhurst is in fifth with 15 points.
The Streak
Air Force has won four straight games, all in conference play. The streak is the longest of the season and the longest since the Falcons won five straight during the 2014-15 season (Jan. 2-24 with wins over Niagara 1, Army 2 and AIC 2). That five-game winning streak ties as the longest wince the Falcons won eight straight late in the 2010-11 season. That streak ended in overtime against Yale in the NCAA East Regional.
Live Stream
Both games will be streamed on AtlanticHockey.tv for a subscription fee.
Radio/Internet
Both games will be broadcast on Xtra Sports 1300. Both games are available online at GoAirForceFalcons.com. Jay Ritchie will call the play-by-play while Dave Toller will provide color analysis. Pregame show begins 30 minutes before faceoff each day.
The Coach
Head coach Frank Serratore is in his 20th season at Air Force with a record of 340-316-74 (730 games). The 4-3 win over Arizona State, Oct. 14, was his 300th win over Division I teams while at Air Force. The 2016 AHC Coach of the Year, he is the winningest coach in the history of Air Force hockey, having led Air Force to two regular-season titles, five AHC tournament championships and five NCAA Tournaments in the last 10 years. In 24 seasons as a collegiate head coach, he has an overall record of 389-408-83 (880 games).
Scouting the Lakers
Mercyhurst is tied for fifth place in the league, 8-10-1 overall and 7-6-1 in the AHC. The Lakers are 2-1-1 in the last four games and placed third in the Mariucci Classic last week. After a 5-1 loss to Minnesota, the Lakers defeated Alabama-Huntsville, 3-2 in overtime, in the consolation game. Three of Mercyhurst's last four games have gone into overtime and The Lakers are 2-0-1 in those games. Both games against Robert Morris, Dec. 17-18, went into overtime and the Lakers took three points. Sophomore forward Derek Barach leads the team with 16 assists and 20 points. Junior Jonathan Charbonneau leads the team with 10 goals. Junior Brandon Wildung and Colin DeAugustine have split time in goal. However, recently, DeAugustine has seen the most action, starting six of last seven. DeAugustine has the best numbers with a 2.64 GAA, a .925 saves percentage and a 5-3-1 record.
Trending
Sophomore Evan Giesler has a five-game point streak, the longest by any player this season ... He has scored in nine of the last 10 games and has 12 points (5-7-12) in those games .. Kyle Haak leads the team with seven goals and 17 points ... Haak has a point in six of the last seven games ... Evan Feno leads the team with 11 assists ... Phil Boje is the top scoring defenseman with 15 points (5-10-15) points ... Boje also leads the team with 32 blocked shots ... Jordan Himley leads the team with nine goals and is fourth with 14 points ... In his last 12 games, he has eight goals and 10 points ... Tyler Ledford had two points (1-1-2) in the win over Sacred Heart (Dec. 30), ending a streak of 12 games without a point and 13 games without a goal ... A.J. Reid scored the game-winner on Dec. 30 vs. Sacred Heart, ending a streak of 12 games without a goal ... Tyler Ledford leads the team with 158 faceoff wins ... Brady Tomlak's 63.5 faceoff winning percentage is the best on the team.
Series vs. the Lakers
Air Force and Mercyhurst have played 31 times and Air Force leads the series, 15-13-3. In games played in Erie, Air Force holds a 7-5-2 advantage against the Lakers. In the last seven games in Erie, each team has won three with one tie. Twenty-four of the 31 games have been decided by two goals or less. The series has been tight since its beginning in 2007 as just twice during the series has a team won more than two straight games (Mercyhurst won three in 2007 and Air Force won three in 2014). Last season, the teams split a two-game series in Erie. Air Force won the first game, 5-4 in overtime, while the Lakers won game two, 3-1.
Players Mentioned
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