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Falcons more than just talent
Good teamwork and determination pushed Air Force into tournament.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
OXFORD — If talent alone determined the NCAA hockey tournament qualifiers, Miami University probably wouldn't be preparing to play the Air Force Academy this week.
But talent is only part of the equation. Just ask Falcons coach Frank Serratore, who sees many other positive characteristics within his program.
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"I tell people, 'I don't really know what we have, but we have a lot of it,' " Serratore said. "They're overachieving type kids. They've never taken the short path to anything. It's amazing what they can accomplish collectively."
Air Force is 21-11-6 heading into Northeast Regional play against top-seeded Miami on Saturday, March 29, at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.
The Falcons, the Atlantic Hockey Association tournament champions, have never won an NCAA game, but they came close in their first appearance last season. They lost to Minnesota 4-3.
"You don't win a 10-team league two years in a row without being the real deal," Serratore said. "Once is luck, twice is skill. Winning again validated this group as champions at this level."
Air Force has won the hard way this year. They lost senior forward Eric Ehn, who earned the Falcons' first-ever All-America honor last season, in late January because of a fractured left fibia and ligament damage in his left ankle.
The Falcons came together as a group and persevered. Fifteen team members have notched double-digit points, led by junior forward Brent Olson (18 goals, 20 assists).
Now Ehn is on the mend and might return to action in Worcester.
"We're not asking him to lead us to the promised land," Serratore said. "We just need him to come in and be able to function as a solid two-way player for us. We just don't know yet."
Air Force is 8-0-1 in its last nine contests, outscoring its opponents 43-12 during that stretch. Falcons sophomore goalie Andrew Volkening is allowing 2.08 goals per game with a .912 save percentage.
Air Force faces more unique recruiting issues than most Division I schools. Stringent academic standards, a military commitment and American citizenship are all part of the process.
"We've got a team full of very good second-level players," Serratore said. "That's academy sports. When you play against us, we aren't going to be the most talented team, but we'll almost certainly be the hardest working."
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2194 or rcassano@coxohio.com.
