Friday, November 15
USAFA, CO
8:05 pm MT
Air Force Academy
7-6-0, 4-1-0
1
vs
0
Mercyhurst University
2-11-0, 2-7-0
1
2
3
F
Mercyhurst
0
0
0
0
Air Force
0
0
1
1
Blessing and Falcons blank Mercyhurst, 1-0
11/15/2024 10:59:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Senior Guy Blessing made 23 saves and Chris Hedden scored the game-winner as Air Force beat Mercyhurst, 1-0, in an Atlantic Hockey America conference game Friday, Nov. 15, at the Cadet Ice Arena. The Falcons earned their third straight win and Blessing collected his second shutout in his last three games.
In a scoreless first period, Air Force outshot Mercyhurst, 18-7, but both goalies kept their net clean. The Lakers outshot the Falcons, 14-13, in the second period, but again the goalies were perfect.
Air Force (7-6-0, 4-1-0 AHA) broke the seal midway through the third period for a 1-0 lead. Mason McCormick won a faceoff in the offensive zone and Austin Schwartz tapped the puck to Hedden at the center point. Hedden netted his first game-winner of the season and the fourth of his career at 8:24 of the third period. Mercyhurst pulled the goalie in the final 2:15, but the Falcons blocked four shots and Blessing made three saves to preserve the win.
The Falcons outshot the Lakers, 41-23, in the game. There was only one penalty called in the game and Air Force was 0-for-1 on the power play. Mercyhurst (2-11-0, 2-7-0 AHA) goalie Carter McPhail made 40 saves. Blessing collected his fifth career shutout.
"This team has a mature calmness about them," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We had a strong first period and they came back with a push in the second. Then the third was a chess match. Our guys played a sound, solid third period and stayed competitively patient. This is how we are going to have to win games this season. Now, we need to come back and finish the home stand in style."
Air Force and Mercyhurst conclude the two-game series on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 8:05 pm MT at the Cadet Ice Arena.
--30--
In a scoreless first period, Air Force outshot Mercyhurst, 18-7, but both goalies kept their net clean. The Lakers outshot the Falcons, 14-13, in the second period, but again the goalies were perfect.
Air Force (7-6-0, 4-1-0 AHA) broke the seal midway through the third period for a 1-0 lead. Mason McCormick won a faceoff in the offensive zone and Austin Schwartz tapped the puck to Hedden at the center point. Hedden netted his first game-winner of the season and the fourth of his career at 8:24 of the third period. Mercyhurst pulled the goalie in the final 2:15, but the Falcons blocked four shots and Blessing made three saves to preserve the win.
The Falcons outshot the Lakers, 41-23, in the game. There was only one penalty called in the game and Air Force was 0-for-1 on the power play. Mercyhurst (2-11-0, 2-7-0 AHA) goalie Carter McPhail made 40 saves. Blessing collected his fifth career shutout.
"This team has a mature calmness about them," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We had a strong first period and they came back with a push in the second. Then the third was a chess match. Our guys played a sound, solid third period and stayed competitively patient. This is how we are going to have to win games this season. Now, we need to come back and finish the home stand in style."
Air Force and Mercyhurst conclude the two-game series on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 8:05 pm MT at the Cadet Ice Arena.
--30--
Team Stats
MU
AF
Shots
23
41
PPG
0
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
1
0
Penalty Mins
2
0
Faceoffs Won
24
40
Game Leaders
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
8
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
4
A
1
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
1
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
5
A
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Ice Hockey
D
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice HockeyTroy Calhoun and Players POST Wyoming
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