Falcons called out by coach
Frank Serratore doesn't know all the answers for Air Force hockey's recent slide, but he understands that the healing will start with upperclassmen.
Serratore challenged his seniors and juniors Monday before practice. Lead by example, and get the Falcons back to what they were earlier this season.
"He put a personal challenge on the table for us, being the guys that have to step up," senior forward Brent Olson said. "Not by how we say or what we say, but how we act on the ice. Blocking shots, not taking stupid penalties, scoring big goals, things like that."
Coming into their series Friday and Saturday against Army at Cadet Ice Arena, the Falcons have lost four of five games. Air Force started 13-0 and was ranked No. 1 in the Dec. 2 PairWise rankings, which mimic the NCAA Tournament selection formula, and No. 1 in KRACH, which is a mathematical ranking system.
Serratore isn't feeling good about the team's recent ways. He doesn't think the team is playing that badly - players are in spots to succeed, and he didn't question the overall effort - but something has been missing.
"Winning hockey is a mind-set, and it's an attitude," Serratore said. "We had it at one time, we've lost it, and we have to get it back."
He wants to see his upperclassmen, particularly the seniors, play bigger roles.
"It falls on them," Serratore said. "They're the ones that have to lead. The younger guys will follow. It doesn't work the other way."
The series against Army could get the Falcons' attention. Not only is Army a service academy rival, the Black Knights have been tough on Air Force. Army has won eight of 13 games against Air Force since 2003.
"The last few years, they've really been handing it to us," Olson said. "They're a good defensive team."
Although Army is 7-12-3 overall and 6-7-3 in the Atlantic Hockey Association, the Black Knights are on a 3-0-2 streak. With a service academy rivalry, records mean little anyway.
"These games mean a lot more to the surrounding community, not just ourselves," senior forward and captain Mike Phillipich said. "There's a lot more eyes on it."
Air Force has time to right itself. At 12-3-1 in AHA play, 15-6-1 overall, the Falcons are two points behind Rochester Institute of Technology for first place in the league and have two games in hand. The seniors have had a lot of success, and they are determined to finish strong.
"It's our legacy," Phillipich said. "It's what we want to make of it."
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CONTACT THE WRITER: 476-4891 or frank.schwab@gazette.com
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