Friday, January 6
Tempe, Ariz.
3:30 pm MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Boston University
Photo by: U.S. Air Force photo by Justin R
Air Force travels to Desert Hockey Classic
1/2/2023 2:50:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
The Games
Game 1: vs. #6 Boston University, Friday, Jan. 6, 3:30 pm MT, Tempe, Ariz.
Game 2: vs. #16 Michigan Tech/RV Arizona State, Saturday, Jan. 7, 3:30/7 pm MT, Tempe, Ariz.
Broadcast Information
Television: None
Stream: Both games on ASU Live Stream
Radio: Both games on XtraSports 1300 AM
Live Stats Both games on StatBroadcast
The Breakdown
Quick Facts: Air Force Boston Univ.
2022-23 Record: 6-10-2, 2-7-1 AHA 12-5-0, 8-4-0 Hockey East
Streak: L 5 W 2
Last Game: L 2-1 Holy Cross (H), Dec. 3 W 2-1, Harvard, (H), Dec. 30
The Coaches
Head Coach: Frank Serratore Jay Pandolfo
School Record: 432-405-98 (26th yr) 12-5-0 (1st yr)
Career Record: 481-497-107 (30th yr) 12-5-0 (1st yr)
The Series
Overall: BU 2-0
Last Meeting Dec. 27, 1977, BU won 8-7
Streak: BU W 2
One-Timers
* Air Force's series against Canisius, Dec. 30-31, was postponed
* The Falcons have not played since Dec. 3, the span between games will be 34 days
* Air Force's current six-game winless (0-5-1) skid is the longest since the Falcons started the 2020-21 (COVID) season 0-9-1
* Air Force is 6-10-2 at the break this season. The Falcons were 6-9-1 at the break last season before making a second-half run to the AHA Championship Game
* Junior forward Nate Horn has a current six-game point streak (3-3-6), the longest by a Falcon this season and the longest of his career
* Horn had two assists against HC and is tied for the team lead in goals and points (6-7-13)
* Will Gavin scored a power-play goal in game one against Holy Cross and is tied for the team lead in goals and points (6-7-13)
* Luke Rowe, the AHA Defensive Player of the Month for November, is also tied for the team lead with 13 points (5-8-13).
* Air Force has five players with 11 or more points
* Sophomore goalie Guy Blessing has started 15 straight games. Despite two losses against Holy Cross, he had a 2.04 GAA and a .905 saves percentage in the series
* Through the first 10 games of the season, the Falcons averaged 3.6 goals per game to rank 12th in the nation. In the last eight games, the Falcons have scored 14 goals for 1.75 per game
* Air Force has allowed the first goal in five straight games. The Falcons are 4-2-1 when scoring first and 2-8-1 when allowing the first goal
* Boston University is ranked sixth in both national polls. The Terriers are the highest ranked team the Falcons have faced since defeating No. 1 St. Cloud State in the NCAA West Regional, March 23, 2018.
About the Terriers
Boston University is ranked sixth in both national polls. The Terriers beat No. 9 Harvard, 2-1 in overtime, on Dec. 30. Prior to the break, BU defeated UConn, 3-2, but fell to Boston College, 9-6. BU's roster features 12 NHL draft picks (third most in the nation), including one first-rounder and four second-rounders. Matt Brown leads the team with eight goals, 16 assists and 24 points in 17 games. Drew Commesso (2.74 gaa, .908 saves percentage in 11 games) and Vinny Duplessis (2.48 gaa, .908 saves percentage in eight games) have split time in goal. Historically one of the best college hockey programs, BU has been to 37 NCAA Tournaments, the second most in the nation, and 22 Frozen Fours, the third most in the nation (Michigan 39 and 26). BU currently has 21 players in the NHL, the fifth most among all college hockey teams.
Series vs. the Field
Air Force and Boston University have met twice in the history of the programs and BU won both games (10-4 in 1972 and 8-7 in 1977). This will be the second time the teams will meet in a tournament on neutral ice.
Air Force and Arizona State have played six times over the past six seasons. The teams first met in 2016 in Arizona and split the series. Air Force swept a series at the Academy in 2017. The Sun Devils swept the Falcons at the Academy in 2019.
Air Force and Michigan Tech have never met.
Game 1: vs. #6 Boston University, Friday, Jan. 6, 3:30 pm MT, Tempe, Ariz.
Game 2: vs. #16 Michigan Tech/RV Arizona State, Saturday, Jan. 7, 3:30/7 pm MT, Tempe, Ariz.
Broadcast Information
Television: None
Stream: Both games on ASU Live Stream
Radio: Both games on XtraSports 1300 AM
Live Stats Both games on StatBroadcast
The Breakdown
Quick Facts: Air Force Boston Univ.
2022-23 Record: 6-10-2, 2-7-1 AHA 12-5-0, 8-4-0 Hockey East
Streak: L 5 W 2
Last Game: L 2-1 Holy Cross (H), Dec. 3 W 2-1, Harvard, (H), Dec. 30
The Coaches
Head Coach: Frank Serratore Jay Pandolfo
School Record: 432-405-98 (26th yr) 12-5-0 (1st yr)
Career Record: 481-497-107 (30th yr) 12-5-0 (1st yr)
The Series
Overall: BU 2-0
Last Meeting Dec. 27, 1977, BU won 8-7
Streak: BU W 2
One-Timers
* Air Force's series against Canisius, Dec. 30-31, was postponed
* The Falcons have not played since Dec. 3, the span between games will be 34 days
* Air Force's current six-game winless (0-5-1) skid is the longest since the Falcons started the 2020-21 (COVID) season 0-9-1
* Air Force is 6-10-2 at the break this season. The Falcons were 6-9-1 at the break last season before making a second-half run to the AHA Championship Game
* Junior forward Nate Horn has a current six-game point streak (3-3-6), the longest by a Falcon this season and the longest of his career
* Horn had two assists against HC and is tied for the team lead in goals and points (6-7-13)
* Will Gavin scored a power-play goal in game one against Holy Cross and is tied for the team lead in goals and points (6-7-13)
* Luke Rowe, the AHA Defensive Player of the Month for November, is also tied for the team lead with 13 points (5-8-13).
* Air Force has five players with 11 or more points
* Sophomore goalie Guy Blessing has started 15 straight games. Despite two losses against Holy Cross, he had a 2.04 GAA and a .905 saves percentage in the series
* Through the first 10 games of the season, the Falcons averaged 3.6 goals per game to rank 12th in the nation. In the last eight games, the Falcons have scored 14 goals for 1.75 per game
* Air Force has allowed the first goal in five straight games. The Falcons are 4-2-1 when scoring first and 2-8-1 when allowing the first goal
* Boston University is ranked sixth in both national polls. The Terriers are the highest ranked team the Falcons have faced since defeating No. 1 St. Cloud State in the NCAA West Regional, March 23, 2018.
About the Terriers
Boston University is ranked sixth in both national polls. The Terriers beat No. 9 Harvard, 2-1 in overtime, on Dec. 30. Prior to the break, BU defeated UConn, 3-2, but fell to Boston College, 9-6. BU's roster features 12 NHL draft picks (third most in the nation), including one first-rounder and four second-rounders. Matt Brown leads the team with eight goals, 16 assists and 24 points in 17 games. Drew Commesso (2.74 gaa, .908 saves percentage in 11 games) and Vinny Duplessis (2.48 gaa, .908 saves percentage in eight games) have split time in goal. Historically one of the best college hockey programs, BU has been to 37 NCAA Tournaments, the second most in the nation, and 22 Frozen Fours, the third most in the nation (Michigan 39 and 26). BU currently has 21 players in the NHL, the fifth most among all college hockey teams.
Series vs. the Field
Air Force and Boston University have met twice in the history of the programs and BU won both games (10-4 in 1972 and 8-7 in 1977). This will be the second time the teams will meet in a tournament on neutral ice.
Air Force and Arizona State have played six times over the past six seasons. The teams first met in 2016 in Arizona and split the series. Air Force swept a series at the Academy in 2017. The Sun Devils swept the Falcons at the Academy in 2019.
Air Force and Michigan Tech have never met.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
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Dan Oosterhous - Hall of Fame SPEECH
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Jeff Bzdelik - Hall of Fame SPEECH
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Jeff Heidmous - Hall of Fame SPEECH
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