Falcons hockey starts laying groundwork for 2012 NCAA run

Air Force hockey coach Frank Serratore has his eye on the prize – a fifth NCAA Tournament berth in six years – and he and his team know exactly how to garner it.

“It’s all about getting the foundation under you,” senior co-captain Scott Mathis said.

Work starts against No. 3 North Dakota Friday night in the annual Icebreaker Tournament. The talented Sioux could make Air Force’s deficiencies apparent even as the Western Collegiate Hockey Association power works to develop its young forwards. The Falcons will face either No. 5 Boston College or Michigan State on Saturday.

The cement for that groundwork is the Falcons' defense, which is anchored by sophomore goalie Jason Torf and led by a deep defense corps paced by Mathis and alternate captain Tim Kirby and including Atlantic Hockey Association all-rookie team member Adam McKenzie and junior Stephen Carew.

“They have the potential to be the best defensive pair in Air Force history,” Serratore said, emphasizing Kirby's and Mathis’ potential. “They have a lot of work ahead of them. I do like the depth of our D-corps.”

Some blue line offense should help the power play and the forwards, who collectively must make up for the loss of Jacques Lamoureux (44 points, 24 goals) and Derrick Burnett (35, 27 assists) to graduation. The top returning forwards are juniors Kyle DeLaurell, John Kruse and senior co-captain Paul Weisgarber.

But a lot relies on Torf, who was voted as the AHA’s top rookie goalie last season. He was a big reason the Falcons went from a team with a struggling defense in November to an NCAA Tournament-caliber team when Air Force went 8-0 from Feb. 18 through March 19 before its season ended with a 2-1 overtime loss against top-seeded Yale in the NCAAs.

The 8-0 run fits into the formula that makes Air Force an AHA favorite along with the Rochester Institute of Technology, which was picked to edge the Falcons for the regular-season title.

RIT used much the same formula – solid defense anchored by a top-tier AHA goalie – to reach the league title game, which decides the NCAA berth.

“On paper, we’re very excited about our team,” Tigers coach Wayne Wilson said. “Shane (Madolora) is back in goal, and he led nation in save percentage. All our defensemen are returning and that’s where we improved the most last season. The three freshmen picked up a lot of experience.”

No one should pencil in another AFA-RIT league final with Holy Cross and Niagara expected to challenge. A long season of work lies ahead for the Falcons.

“We will eventually become a good team and that takes time,” Serratore said. “If we were a good team right now, they wouldn’t need me. It’s just getting started.”

Atlantic Hockey capsules

Listed in predicted finish in preseason coaches poll

Rochester Institute of Technology

Last season: 19-11-8, 15-5-7 AHA (first)

Top returners: So. F Ben Lynch (30 points, 23 assists); Sr. F Cameron Burt (28, 22 assists); Jr. F Adam Hartley (25, 14 assists); Jr. D Chris Saracino (20, 15 assists); Sr. G Shane Madolora (17-3-7, 1.95 goals against, .935 saves percentage).

Air Force

Last season: 20-12-6, 14-7-6 (second), tournament title (NCAA berth)

Top returners: So. G Jason Torf (16-9-3, 2.87 gaa, .909 saves); Jr. F Kyle DeLaurell (33, 23 assists); Jr. F John Kruse (29, 18 assists); Sr. D Scott Mathis (27, 19 assists); Sr. F Paul Weisgarber (25, 13 goals); Sr. D Tim Kirby (23, 16 assists).

Holy Cross

Last season: 17-16-5, 14-8-5 (third)

Top returners: Jr. F Kyle Fletcher (38, 22 assists); Jr. F Rob Linsmayer (34, 22 assists); So. F Shayne Stockton (25, 16 assists).

Niagara

Last season: 18-13-4, 15-10-2 (fourth)

Top returners: Jr. F Giancarlo Iuorio (33, 24 assists); So. F Ryan Rashid (26, 13 goals); So. F Scott Arnold (22, 16 goals); So. G Carsen Chubak (4-3-1, 2.80 gaa, .899 saves); So. G Cody Campbell of Colorado Springs (4-6-1, 3.38 gaa, .895 saves).

Connecticut

Last season: 15-18-4, 13-12-2 (sixth)

Top returners: So. F Cole Schneider (33, 20 assists); Jr. F Sean Ambrosie (28, 18 assists); So. F Billy Latta (26, 15 assists); So. F Jordan Sims (22, 12 assists).

Robert Morris

Last season: 18-12-5, 13-9-5 (fifth)

Top returners: Sr. F Adam Brace (28, 16 assists); Sr. F Ron Cramer (21, 12 assists); Sr. G Brooks Ostergard (14-9-2, 2.73 gaa, .915 saves); Sr. F Trevor Lewis (16, 10 goals).

Mercyhurst

Last season: 15-18-4, 12-13-2 (seventh)

Top returners: Jr. F Paul Chiasson (37, 20 assists); Jr. F Grant Blakey (23, 14 assists); Sr. G Max Strang (2-1-0, 3.55 gaa, .867 saves).

Army

Last season: 11-20-4, 10-13-4 (ninth)

Top returners: Sr. F Danny Colvin (31, 22 assists); Sr. F Mike Hull (29, 21 assists); Sr. D Marcel Alvarez (23, 19 assists); Sr. D Mark Dube (17, 13 goals).

Canisius

Last season: 13-19-6, 10-12-5 (eighth)

Top returners: So. D Ben Danford (26, 24 assists); Jr. F Preston Shupe (24, 14 assists); So. F Kyle Gibbons (23, 13 assists); Sr. F Scott Moser (21, 12 assists).

Bentley

Last season:10-18-6, 9-13-5 (10^th)

Top returners: So. F Brett Gensler (24 points, 13 goals); Jr. F Joe Campanelli (18, 10 assists); Sr. D Mike Switzer (13, 10 assists).

Sacred Heart

Last season: 6-25-6, 5-16-6 (11^th)

Top returners: Sr. F Matt Gingera (30, 21 goals); Jr. F Eric Delong (30, 21 assists); Jr. F Ben Ketchum (18, 12 assists); Jr. G Steven Legatto (3-19-5, 4.67 gaa, .887 saves).

American International

Last season: 8-24-1, 7-19-1 (12^th)

Top returners: Jr. F Adam Pleskach (28, 15 assists); Sr. F Nielsson Arcibal (25, 14 assists); Sr. F Michael Penny (22, 11 goals); Jr. G Ben Meisner (7-18-1, 3.70 gaa, .905 saves).