For Air Force, tournament is a dream vacation

For many college students, the thought of missing out on spring break in the tropics is depressing.

Air Force hockey player Frank Schiavone couldn't be happier. The senior and his teammates are playing in the NCAA Tournament instead.

"My freshman and sophomore year, all the guys had their tickets booked back in November," he said. "Even last year, it caught some guys off guard. But this year, we were all pretty hopeful that we'd still be playing."

This weekend's trip to Worcester, Mass., for the Northeast Regional marks the second straight year the Falcons (21-11-6) have advanced to the NCAAs.

In 2007, Air Force lost its first-round game to top seed Minnesota after taking an early lead.

"Last year, it was our first time at the regionals, and we were kind of scared and didn't really know what to expect," Schiavone said. "We were playing Minnesota, and that was intimidating. We just have a better idea of what we're up against this year."

The Falcons play No. 1 seed Miami (Ohio) at 2 p.m. Saturday. If they beat the RedHawks (32-7-1), they advance to Sunday's regional final with a Frozen Four berth on the line.

While the upperclassmen realize what awaits this weekend, the freshmen are eager to find out.

"No one really knows exactly what we can expect," first-year player Blake Page said. "Every team at this level is going to be so good, but it definitely helps to have guys on the team who have been there before."

Many Falcons were surprised at their regional assignment.

"After they were announcing all the teams in Wisconsin and here (at World Arena), I was starting to wonder if we were even going to get an assignment," freshman Brad Sellers said.

Air Force earned an automatic bid to the tournament by winning the Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament title game.

In the NCAAs, Air Force will continue to depend on its quick forwards and shot-blocking capability.

Over the past two seasons, the Falcons have allowed an average of only 25 shots per game, the fewest in the nation.

"We don't really care where or who we're playing," senior defenseman Matt Charbonneau said. "We just want to get there and get after it and play our game that we've been playing all season. We're all going to have to be on top of it mentally and playing our best."