Wasik earns second career shutout in 2-0 win over Sacred Heart
1/31/2026 8:21:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Dominik Wasik made 21 saves for his second career shutout as Air Force blanked Sacred Heart, 2-0, in an Atlantic Hockey America game, Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Cadet Ice Arena. Air Force swept the two-game series and took all four games from the Pioneers, the preseason favorite in the AHA, this season.
For the third straight period, Air Force scored a goal in the final 15 seconds of a period as Mason McCormick gave the Falcons a 1-0 lead at 19:45 of the first period. McCormick picked the pocket of a Pioneer behind the net and scored on a warp around. Air Force dominated the first period with a 20-5 shot advantage and a 15-6 faceoff advantage.
Each team had nine shots on goal in the second period, but neither was able to score. The Falcon penalty kill, and Wasik, killed five minutes of Pioneer power-play time in the second period.
Midway through the third period, a major penalty was called on SHU's Stephane Huard for a hit on defenseman Jake Peterson, but the Pioneers killed the five-minute power play. With three minutes left, Peterson drew his second penalty of the period. But again the Pioneers killed it.
Once back to even-strength, the Pioneers pulled the goalie for the extra attacker. Holt Oliphant forced a turnover at his own blue line and sprung McCormick in the neutral zone. McCormick tied his career high with his second goal with 12 seconds left to seal the 2-0 victory.
Air Force outshot Sacred Heart (13-10-3, 9-6-3 AHA) 32-21. Air Force was 0-for-4 on the power play and killed all three of the Pioneer advantages. Freshman Teagan Kendrick made 30 saves for SHU.
"This was such a hard-fought game," head coach Frank Serratore said. "This felt like a 15-round fight and we were winning a decision until we got that TKO goal at the end with the empty-netter. This was a playoff type of game. Give them credit, their penalty kill put a lot of pressure on us. I couldn't be more proud of our guys to hang in there and stay with it. The two best players in the game were the two goalies. Wasik was terrific in beating a really good team twice this weekend."
With the wins, Air Force moved into sixth place in Atlantic Hockey with 28 points and just two points out of a tie for fourth place. The top four teams not only earn a first-round bye, but get home ice in the quarterfinals.
Air Force (13-11-2, 9-8-1 AHA) travels to Niagara for a two-game league series, Feb. 6-7, in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
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For the third straight period, Air Force scored a goal in the final 15 seconds of a period as Mason McCormick gave the Falcons a 1-0 lead at 19:45 of the first period. McCormick picked the pocket of a Pioneer behind the net and scored on a warp around. Air Force dominated the first period with a 20-5 shot advantage and a 15-6 faceoff advantage.
Each team had nine shots on goal in the second period, but neither was able to score. The Falcon penalty kill, and Wasik, killed five minutes of Pioneer power-play time in the second period.
Midway through the third period, a major penalty was called on SHU's Stephane Huard for a hit on defenseman Jake Peterson, but the Pioneers killed the five-minute power play. With three minutes left, Peterson drew his second penalty of the period. But again the Pioneers killed it.
Once back to even-strength, the Pioneers pulled the goalie for the extra attacker. Holt Oliphant forced a turnover at his own blue line and sprung McCormick in the neutral zone. McCormick tied his career high with his second goal with 12 seconds left to seal the 2-0 victory.
Air Force outshot Sacred Heart (13-10-3, 9-6-3 AHA) 32-21. Air Force was 0-for-4 on the power play and killed all three of the Pioneer advantages. Freshman Teagan Kendrick made 30 saves for SHU.
"This was such a hard-fought game," head coach Frank Serratore said. "This felt like a 15-round fight and we were winning a decision until we got that TKO goal at the end with the empty-netter. This was a playoff type of game. Give them credit, their penalty kill put a lot of pressure on us. I couldn't be more proud of our guys to hang in there and stay with it. The two best players in the game were the two goalies. Wasik was terrific in beating a really good team twice this weekend."
With the wins, Air Force moved into sixth place in Atlantic Hockey with 28 points and just two points out of a tie for fourth place. The top four teams not only earn a first-round bye, but get home ice in the quarterfinals.
Air Force (13-11-2, 9-8-1 AHA) travels to Niagara for a two-game league series, Feb. 6-7, in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
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