Risk and reward await Air Force and CC this weekend
The risk may be as great for No. 10 Colorado College as the potential reward is for Air Force this weekend.
Air Force plays CC tonight at World Arena. On Saturday, Atlantic Hockey Association member Mercyhurst visits the Tigers while No. 2 Denver travels to the Falcons.
For Air Force (12-10-6) the potential reward is greater. This weekend’s nonconference games give the Falcons an immediate chance to show how good they can be.
“I’m not a pull a Band-Aid off slowly kind of guy,” coach Frank Serratore said. “If we don’t bring our ‘A’ game, we will be exposed in a hurry.”
If the inexperienced defensive corps struggles, this weekend could sap the team’s confidence.
“It’s up to us to prove we’ve replaced key losses from last year,” he said.
Jacques Lamoureux leads the Falcons with 34 points (17 goals), followed by Derrick Burnett (26, 19 assists), Matt Fairchild (19, 10 assists) and Jeff Hajner (17, 11 assists). Senior Andrew Volkening (12-10-6, 2.58 goals against, .913 save percentage) anchors the defense.
For the Tigers (15-10-3), the nonconference weekend is more of a risk. Crush their AHA foes as the 10th-ranked team should. Play poorly and doubts surface.
After Saturday, the Tigers won’t play again until Feb. 19. That gives the other teams a chance to overtake them in the league standings while poll voters will have more time to mull over the weekend.
CC is paced by Bill Sweatt (28 points, 14 goals), Mike Testwuide (22, 16 goals), Rylan Schwartz (22, 17 assists) and Nate Prosser (21, 18 assists). Freshman goalie Joe Howe (14-9-3, 2.71, .908) is expected to start.
With so much, especially pride, on the line, no one should expect CC to overlook Air Force, which humbled them 4-1 last season. It was the Falcons’ first win in 23 years (7-56-2 all-time).
“They embarrassed us last year,” junior Ryan Lowery said. “Friday is our chance to exact some revenge.”
