Pair of Falcons played in the AHL; Two others currently playing professionally
4/2/2026 2:42:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – A pair of Air Force hockey players in the Class of 2026 recently signed an ATO (Amateur Try-Out) and played in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Senior team captain Chris Hedden played with the Colorado Eagles (AHL), the top affiliate of the NHL's Colorado Avalanche, on Tuesday, March 17, vs. the San Diego Gulls at the Blue Federal Credit Union Arena in Loveland, Colo. A defenseman from Kalamazoo, Mich., Hedden played in 149 games for the Falcons with 108 career points (34-74-108).
Senior team captain Mason McCormick played two games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL), the top affiliate of the NHL's Nashville Predators. McCormick played in two games, Friday-Saturday, March 27-28, vs. the Henderson Silver Knights at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. A center from Verona, Wisc., McCormick played in 135 career games for the Falcons with 49 career points (24-25-49).
Two other Falcons, Luke Rowe and Will Gavin, are currently playing professional hockey.
Rowe, a December 2023 Academy graduate, signed with the Ontario Reign (AHL), the top affiliate of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings, and played five games with the Reign at the end of the 2023-24 season. A defenseman from Succasunna, N.J., Rowe then played 47 games with the Reign in 2024-25, scoring 10 points (3-7-10) and was a +19. In the summer of 2025, he signed with the Bridgeport Islanders (AHL), the top affiliate of the NHL's New York Islanders. As of April 1, Rowe played in 57 of the team's 65 games and has 11 points (1-10-11) and was a +8.
Gavin, a 2024 Academy graduate, signed with the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL), the top NHL affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes in the summer of 2024. Injuries cut his 2024-25 season short as he played 17 games with the Allen Americans (ECHL) and had two points (1-1-2). In the summer of 2025, the winger from Durham, Conn., signed with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL), the top affiliate of the NHL's Seattle Kraken. As of April 1, Gavin played 38 of the team's 63 games with the Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL) and has seven points (4-4-3) and is a +5.
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Senior team captain Chris Hedden played with the Colorado Eagles (AHL), the top affiliate of the NHL's Colorado Avalanche, on Tuesday, March 17, vs. the San Diego Gulls at the Blue Federal Credit Union Arena in Loveland, Colo. A defenseman from Kalamazoo, Mich., Hedden played in 149 games for the Falcons with 108 career points (34-74-108).
Senior team captain Mason McCormick played two games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL), the top affiliate of the NHL's Nashville Predators. McCormick played in two games, Friday-Saturday, March 27-28, vs. the Henderson Silver Knights at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. A center from Verona, Wisc., McCormick played in 135 career games for the Falcons with 49 career points (24-25-49).
Two other Falcons, Luke Rowe and Will Gavin, are currently playing professional hockey.
Rowe, a December 2023 Academy graduate, signed with the Ontario Reign (AHL), the top affiliate of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings, and played five games with the Reign at the end of the 2023-24 season. A defenseman from Succasunna, N.J., Rowe then played 47 games with the Reign in 2024-25, scoring 10 points (3-7-10) and was a +19. In the summer of 2025, he signed with the Bridgeport Islanders (AHL), the top affiliate of the NHL's New York Islanders. As of April 1, Rowe played in 57 of the team's 65 games and has 11 points (1-10-11) and was a +8.
Gavin, a 2024 Academy graduate, signed with the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL), the top NHL affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes in the summer of 2024. Injuries cut his 2024-25 season short as he played 17 games with the Allen Americans (ECHL) and had two points (1-1-2). In the summer of 2025, the winger from Durham, Conn., signed with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL), the top affiliate of the NHL's Seattle Kraken. As of April 1, Gavin played 38 of the team's 63 games with the Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL) and has seven points (4-4-3) and is a +5.
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