2026-27 Men's Ice Hockey Roster
Jersey Number 35
Carter Clafton
- Height:
- 6-1
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Grand Rapids, Minn.
- Position:
- G
2025-26 (Junior): Played in seven games with five starts … In his first start of the season, and second of his career, made a career-high 58 saves against fifth-ranked Denver on Oct. 10 … 58 saves were the most ever by a Falcon in the conference era (since 1999) and set a new Atlantic Hockey record … Air Force tied No. 5 Denver, 1-1 in overtime, in that game … Also started against Colorado College, St. Thomas (x2) and RIT … Earned the win over St. Thomas in game two, stopping 25 of 27 … Also had his first career assist vs. the Tommies on the empty-netter to seal the 6-2 win … Played the third period of game two vs. Robert Morris in the AHA Quarterfinals and stopped all 11 shots he faced … Named to the academic all-Atlantic Hockey team.
2024-25 (Sophomore): Played in three games with one start … First career start came on Dec. 7 in place of the injured Guy Blessing … Stopped 23 of 25 in a 4-2 Air Force win … One of his two goals allowed came in an extra-attacker situation in the final 30 seconds of the game … Came on in relief against Arizona State (season opener) and game three against Minnesota … Against ASU, made seven saves in 20 minutes … Against Minnesota, made five saves in 18 minutes.
2023-24 (Freshman): Played in one game … Played the final 10:46 at RIT and made three saves without allowing a goal.
Before Air Force: Played 80 games of junior hockey over three seasons … Played 12 games for the Minot Minotauros (NAHL) in 2020-21 and had an .889 saves percentage and a 3.34 GAA … Started the 2021-22 season in Minot and had an .897 saves percentage and a 3.33 GAA with an 8-8-1 record … Finished the 2021-22 season with the Amarillo Wranglers (NAHL) and played 16 games with a .916 saves percentage and a 2.89 GAA … Played 29 games with the Wranglers in 2022-23 and had a .919 saves percentage and a 2.41 GAA .. Tied for ninth in the league in GAA … Had three shutouts.
Personal: Member of cadet squadron 10 … Major is management … Will go into the acquisitions career field after graduation … On the Dean’s List and Athletic Director’s list … In the summer of 2024, completed Combat Survival Training and the Powered Flight Training programs … This past summer, served as a cadre on the assault course during Basic Cadet Training.
Clafton’s Career Stats
Year GP/GS MIN GA GAA REC SV SV% SH
2023-24 1/0 11 0 0.00 0-0-0 3 1.000 0
2024-25 3/1 97 5 3.09 1-0-0 35 .875 0
2025-26 7/5 260 16 3.69 1-3-1 135 .894 0
Career 11/6 368 21 3.43 2-3-1 173 .892 0
2024-25 (Sophomore): Played in three games with one start … First career start came on Dec. 7 in place of the injured Guy Blessing … Stopped 23 of 25 in a 4-2 Air Force win … One of his two goals allowed came in an extra-attacker situation in the final 30 seconds of the game … Came on in relief against Arizona State (season opener) and game three against Minnesota … Against ASU, made seven saves in 20 minutes … Against Minnesota, made five saves in 18 minutes.
2023-24 (Freshman): Played in one game … Played the final 10:46 at RIT and made three saves without allowing a goal.
Before Air Force: Played 80 games of junior hockey over three seasons … Played 12 games for the Minot Minotauros (NAHL) in 2020-21 and had an .889 saves percentage and a 3.34 GAA … Started the 2021-22 season in Minot and had an .897 saves percentage and a 3.33 GAA with an 8-8-1 record … Finished the 2021-22 season with the Amarillo Wranglers (NAHL) and played 16 games with a .916 saves percentage and a 2.89 GAA … Played 29 games with the Wranglers in 2022-23 and had a .919 saves percentage and a 2.41 GAA .. Tied for ninth in the league in GAA … Had three shutouts.
Personal: Member of cadet squadron 10 … Major is management … Will go into the acquisitions career field after graduation … On the Dean’s List and Athletic Director’s list … In the summer of 2024, completed Combat Survival Training and the Powered Flight Training programs … This past summer, served as a cadre on the assault course during Basic Cadet Training.
Clafton’s Career Stats
Year GP/GS MIN GA GAA REC SV SV% SH
2023-24 1/0 11 0 0.00 0-0-0 3 1.000 0
2024-25 3/1 97 5 3.09 1-0-0 35 .875 0
2025-26 7/5 260 16 3.69 1-3-1 135 .894 0
Career 11/6 368 21 3.43 2-3-1 173 .892 0
Tuesday, September 08
Tuesday, September 08
Tuesday, September 08
Tuesday, September 08
