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Serratore tries to light fire under Falcons
Coach urges hockey team to play hard whole game
Air Force hockey might not be hovering around a .500 record if some of the upperclassmen played with half of the competitive fire coach Frank Serratore displayed at Monday's press conference.
“I don’t like my team much right now,” Serratore said to open the session. “Something’s missing.”
What’s missing, according to the coach, is the memory of how hard past teams had to work to reach the NCAA Tournament three years in a row.
“Is it blind arrogance?” he asked. “I can look into the mirror and think I see Tom Cruise. But it’s just Frank looking back and Frank needs some work.”
Losses at home to last-place American International, 10th-place Sacred Heart and ninth-place Army has fourth-place Air Force looking at tough games against the top half of the 12-team league over the next few weeks, including at sixth-place Connecticut this weekend.
Serratore warned that this year’s seniors may regret those losses.
“At some point in your life you will look back and realize you did not sweep Army because you didn’t prepare your team for the first period,” Serratore said, referring to Saturday’s 5-4 loss. “We did not lose that game in the third period. (The game-winner) should have just been a fluky goal to get them closer in a loss. But you put yourself in position to lose like that when you don’t play hard all game.”
Air Force needs to start strong, especially on the road, the coach urged again and again.
“We are not that good that we can wait to react,” Serratore said.
That effort also needs to be sustained by a team that has managed only two strong games in a row; a sweep at 10th-place Bentley.
“We have got to be consistent with our effort,” he said. “If we do not start to play with consistency, it will lead to our demise.”
SCORING LEADERS
Air Force (9-9-3, 7-5-3 Atlantic Hockey Association)
Offensive leaders: Sr. F Jacques Lamoureux (21, 13 assists); Sr. F Derrick Burnett (19, 14 assists); Jr. F Paul Weisgarber (17, 10 goals): So. F John Kruse (17 points, 10 assists); Fr. F Jason Fabian (13, seven assists); Fr. F Tony Thomas (13, nine assists).
Defensive leaders: Jr. D Scott Mathis (16, 11 assists); Jr. D Tim Kirby (10, six assists); Fr. G Jason Torf (6-6-2, 3.01 goals against, .907 saves percentage); So. G Stephen Caple (3-2-1, 2.80 gaa, .887 saves)
Connecticut (7-12-3, 7-7-1 AHA)
Offensive leaders: Fr. F Cole Schneider (21 points (leads AHA freshmen), 14 assists); So. F Sean Ambrosie (18, nine goals); Fr. F Billy Latta (16, 10 assists); Fr. F Jordan Sims (15, eight goals).
Defensive leaders: So. D Alex Gerke (seven, four assists); Sr. D Brian Reagan (five, three assists); So. G Garrett Bartus (7-10-3, 3.63 gaa, .905 saves).
