Role players stepping forward for Air Force hockey

The improved offensive play of the Air Force role players, like Sean Bertsch and Blake Page, have sparked the Falcons during the last couple weeks and propeled the defending Atlantic Hockey Association champs during a four-game win streak. They try to keep that run going in the tournament semifinals tonight.

“It really helps when guys like Bertsch and Page step up and contribute,” Falcons coach Frank Serratore said. “It enables us to win when (leading scorers Derrick) Burnett or Jacques (Lamoureux) don’t have any puck luck.”

Bertsch and Page, like most of the third-seeded Falcons (16-14-6), were struggling to score a few weeks ago.

“The team needed someone to step forward with all the injuries, especially (injured captain Jeff) Hajner,” said Page, who has two goals and three assists in the last three games. “We asked ourselves, ‘Why can’t it be us?’”

For Bertsch, it was a matter of breaking through a tough patch.

“I’d been snake-bit all year,” the junior from Woodland Park said. “All players go through that for awhile. You just have to keep working hard.”

Bertsch, who recorded three goals and an assist last week to double his season totals, centers the checking line with Page at left wing and Matt Becker (eight points, seven assists) on the right.

Despite a 0-5-1 stretch before the current win streak, the Falcons were playing good defense, led by senior goalie Andrew Volkening (16-14-6, 2.46 goals against, .918 save percentage). Air Force is 14-2-3 if it scores three goals or more.

“He’s our backbone,” Serratore said. “He’s been the picture of consistency. Some nights we haven’t scored enough goals for him.”

Good defensive plays eventually lead to scoring chances. Becker threw a check to force a turnover in Game 1 Friday. His pass to Page started a breakaway that Bertsch finished for his second goal in a 3-0 win.

“His hard work and physical play has been a big factor,” Bertsch said.

Other role players who have stepped up include Brandon Johnson, who scored his second goal in 40 games, in a 4-2 win over Army Saturday.

“All our players need to be strong or that weakness will be exploited,” Serratore said.

The scoring depth behind Lamoureux (41, 21 goals) and Burnett (32, 22 assists) first jelled against their semifinal foe, No. 2 seed Sacred Heart (20-12-4). The Pioneers are led by senior forward Nick Johnson (52, 27 goals). Forward Dave Jarman (48, 35 assists), and Colorado Springs forward Patrick Knowlton (38, 26 assists) add depth. Goalie Steven Legatto (18-9-3, 3.07, .908) anchors the defense.

The winner plays either top-seeded Rochester Institute of Technology or No. 5 Canisius in Saturday’s championship.