Air Force co-hosts Ice Breaker Tournament

THE GAMES
Game 1: Maine, Friday, Oct. 7, 7:05 pm MT, Cadet Ice Arena
Game 2: No. 11 Notre Dame, Oct. 8, 6:05 pm MT, Cadet Ice Arena

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Stream: www.FloHockey.tv
Radio: XtraSports 1300 AM; xtrasports1300.com
Live Stats Statbroadcast

THE BREAKDOWN
Quick Facts: Air Force Maine Notre Dame
2021-22 Record: 16-17-3 7-22-4 28-12-0
Next Series: at Lindenwood at Bentley home - Northern Mich.

THE SERIES
Overall: Maine 5-0 ND 22-14-2
Last Meeting: 2005 - Maine W 2019 - ND W
Streak: Maine W 5 ND W 4

Quick Hitters
* Air Force is the only team in the country to return 100 percent of its scoring from last season
* The only loss from last season's team was goaltender Alex Schilling, who graduated
* Air Force was picked third in the AHA preseason coaches' poll
* The Falcons have received votes in the USCHO national poll each of the last two weeks
* Air Force opened the season with an exhibition game against cross-town rival Colorado College at the Cadet Ice Arena, Saturday, Oct. 1.
* Luke Rowe scored Air Force's only goal in a 5-1 loss to the Tigers. Sophomore Guy Blessing made 30 saves.
* Air Force opens the regular season this weekend by co-hosting the Ice Breaker Tournament (along with the University of Denver), Oct. 7-8, at Cadet Ice Arena
* The 2022 Ice Breaker Tournament will be the fourth time the tournament has been played in Colorado (1999 in Denver, 2005 in Colorado Springs, 2016 in Denver).
* Air Force is competing in the Ice Breaker for the fourth time. Air Force is 2-3-1 all-time in the Ice Breaker. Air Force won the Ice Breaker in 2016 with a 2-1 win over No. 5 Boston College and a shootout win over Ohio State (T 3-3 OT)
* The Falcons reached the AHA championship last season for the eighth time in school history
* Senior defenseman Brandon Koch was named to the preseason all-AHA team. Koch was third-team all-conference last season, the second time in his career he has earned all-conference honors
* Forward Clayton Cosentino and defenseman Mitchell Digby were named to the AHA all-rookie team last season
* Air Force played 36 games last season and 21 of them were decided by one goal or ended in a tie. In those 21 games, Air Force was 12-6-3.
* Will Gavin is the Falcons' top returning scorer with 16 goals and 29 points last season
* Koch led the Falcons, and was second in the AHA, with 22 assists last season. He tied for second on the team with 25 points
* Willie Reim tied for second on the team in both goals (11) and points (25).
* Sophomore Guy Blessing is the top returning goalie. He played in eight games last season with two starts and posted a 3.02 GAA and a .890 saves percentage with a record of 2-1-0.
* Senior Willie Reim and junior Luke Rowe will wear the "C" for the Falcons while senior Blake Bride and junior Luke Robinson will wear an "A"
Series vs. Maine
Air Force and Maine will meet for the sixth time in the history of the schools and the Black Bears hold a 5-0 lead in the series. The teams have not met since the 2005 Ice Breaker at the World Arena in Colorado Springs, a 3-1 Maine win. The last time the Black Bears visited the Academy was in 1990, a pair of wins for Maine.

Air Force co-hosts Ice Breaker Tournament
Air Force and Denver will co-host the 2022 Ice Breaker Tournament. This season marks the first time the tournament has ever had two host schools. The Ice Breaker Tournament, which began in 1997 in Madison, Wis., annually brings together four teams, typically from different conferences, to celebrate the start of the college hockey season. College Hockey Inc. administers the Ice Breaker on behalf of the Hockey Commissioners Association. The 2022 Ice Breaker Tournament will be the fourth time the tournament has been played in Colorado (1999 in Denver, 2005 in Colorado Springs, 2016 in Denver). Air Force is competing in the Ice Breaker for the fourth time. Air Force is 2-3-1 all-time in the Ice Breaker.

2005 in Colorado Springs 2011 in Grand Forks, N.D.
Oct. 7, 2005 vs. Maine (#11) L 1-3 Oct. 7, 2011 at #3 North Dakota, L 3-4
Oct. 8, 2005 vs. Union W 9-2 Oct. 8, 2011 vs. Michigan St.. L 2-3 ot

2016 in Denver (Ice Breaker Champions)
Oct. 7, 2016 vs. #5 Boston College, W 2-1
Oct. 8, 2016 vs. Ohio State T 3-3 ot (W shootout, 1-0; Ledford goal and Starrett save)

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Guy Blessing

Blake Bride

Clayton Cosentino

Mitchell Digby

Will Gavin

Brandon Koch

Willie Reim

Luke Robinson

Luke Rowe

Alex Schilling

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