Air Force Hockey: Top-dogs don't want to lose bite

From the outside looking in, it might seem like Air Force - a pack of perpetual underdogs - is suffering a bit of an identity crisis.

The Falcons were picked preseason No. 1 in the Atlantic Hockey conference after winning their second consecutive conference title last season.

But Air Force isn't putting too much stock in its newfound top-dog status.

Instead, the Falcons are keeping the chip squarely on their shoulders. Their slogan, "Red, White, and Blue-collar" - a coach Frank Serratore original - sums it up.

"It goes back to the reason we're all here," said starting goaltender Andrew Volkening, whose .911 save percentage helped Air Force to a record 21 wins last season. "We're not on a team like CC or DU or Minnesota or whatever, because that's the type of players we are. That's what got us these two championships is that kind of mentality."

But there's plenty of fuel for Air Force's confidence.

Volkening returns, as does 84 percent of Air Force's goal-scoring, for a team that averaged 3.33 goals last season.

"We have all the pieces, more so than ever," Volkening said. "But it's just a matter of putting it together and putting it together consistently."

It starts at home, where the Falcons host the University of Alberta in an exhibition game on Sunday at 5. Air Force's regular-season home debut is Oct. 17-18 against Bemidji State, which is coached by Tom Serratore, the younger brother of Air Force's Serratore.

They open the season at Sacred Heart next weekend.

Last season, the Falcons didn't earn a home sweep until the conference tournament and their strongest play came on the road and often when trailing by a goal or two.

"We've got to be better at home this year," Serratore said. "This has got to be a difficult place to play. What salvaged us is our ability to win on the road and our ability to come from behind. ... But if you have those abilities, you should have a dominating record on your own ice. And we didn't."

Though the Falcons graduated two defensemen, top-scoring defensemen Greg Flynn (eight goals, 23 assists) and Michael Mayra (three goals, 16 assists) return and freshman Tim Kirby is expected to fill the void.

Air Force got early preparation for the loss of Eric Ehn last season. The 2007 Hobey Baker Award finalist broke his leg against CC in January and missed all but the final game of his senior season, a one-goal loss to No. 2 overall seed Miami in the NCAA Tournament.

"Since everyone played a bigger role after he got hurt and everyone's going to be kind of doing that same type of role this year, everyone's got a little bit used to it and knows what it takes," said sophomore Derrick Burnett, who finished sixth in scoring last season.

Air Force returns all six of its top scorers, led by senior Brent Olson (18 goals, 20 assists) and junior Jeff Hajner (15 goals, 23 assists).

Still, the Falcons are taking a cautious approach.

"There's going to be lots of ups and downs," Serratore said. "But I'm ready for the journey. I like our team."

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Contact the writer: 476-4803 or kate.crandall@gazette.com. See our blog at gazettecchockey.freedomblogging.com