2018-19 Men's Ice Hockey Roster
Matt Koch
- Height:
- 6-1
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Hastings, Minn.
- Position:
- D
2017-18 (Junior)
Played in all … Four multiple-point games tied as the most by a Falcon during the season … Named the AHC Defensive Player of the Week, Oct. 11, as he posted two points (1-1-2) to help lead the Falcons to three points on the road at Alaska Fairbanks … Two points in the Arizona State series, including the game-winner in the 3-2 win … Two points (1-1-2) in the 5-1 win at Bemidji State … Tied career high with two assists in the win at Sacred Heart, Nov. 26 … Three points at the NCAA West Regional … Two assists in the win over St. Cloud State in the opening game … One assist in the regional final against Minnesota Duluth … Named to academic all-conference team.
2016-17 (Sophomore)
Played in all 41 games and was second on the team in points by a defenseman with 18 (5-13-18) … Had two power-play goals and two short-handed goals … Was a +8 … First career goal came in the win over RIT (Nov. 11) … Tied career-best two assists against Mercyhurst (Jan. 7) … Two points (1-1-2) in tie with AIC (Feb. 11) … Two assists in the win over No. 8 Western Michigan in the NCAA East Regional … Named to academic all-conference team.
2015-16 (Freshman)
Played in 18 games and had five points, all assists ... Played in eight of the last nine games and had four assists in those eight games ... Career-best two assists against Robert Morris, Feb. 19 ... Named academic all-conference.
Before Air Force
Played in 116 games over two seasons for the Wichita Falls Wildcats of the NAHL … Played in 56 games in 2013-14 and had 17 assists to rank as the third highest-scoring defenseman on the team … Teammate of current Falcons Ben Kucera and Tyler Ledford in 2012-13 … Was the team’s top scoring defenseman in 2014-15 with 51 points (7-44-51) … Named the 2014-15 NAHL Defenseman of the Year, the South Division Defenseman of the Year and was named to the All-South Division Team … Juniors coaches were Paul Baxter and John LaFontaine ... Graduated from Hastings High School ... Lettered three years in hockey and baseball... All-Conference twice in hockey … Named all-conference honorable mention in baseball.
Personal
Member of Cadet Squadron 30 ... Parents are Jim and Pam Koch ... Has one younger brother ... Major is operations research ... Long-term goal is to go to graduate school ... This past summer, was selected for the Cadet Summer Research Program where he spent five weeks at the Pentagon, assisting with the Aircrew Crisis Task Force, working to eliminate the pilot shortage … Also worked as a cadre during Expeditionary Survival and Evasion Training in the Military Operations in Urban Terrain division … Is the director of operations in his squadron, serving in the second highest position the squad … On the superintendent’s list … Favorite athlete to follow on social media is Tiger Woods … Funniest follow is Barstool Sports … If he could have dinner with any three people, it would be Tiger Woods, Warren Buffet and The Rock … Best advice he ever received was “Don’t take anything for granted, life is too short” … Favorite musician is Sam Hunt … On road trips, he never forgets his hockey sticks … Long-team goal is to go to grad school and possibly work … Hidden talent is he is good at card tricks ... Greatest individual moment leading all defensemen in scoring at the NCAA West Regional in 2018 … Greatest team moment was beating St. Cloud State in the NCAA Tournament last season ... One word to describe him is goal-oriented ... Credits his dad as having the greatest influence on his sports career ... Has worn the No. 7 nearly his whole career and it is also his favorite number … Hobbies anything that revolves around family, friends and sports ... Started playing hockey at the age of four ... Favorite NHL team is the Minnesota Wild ... Favorite NHL player is Erik Karlsson.
