# 2021–22 Air Force Falcons men's ice hockey season

The 2021–22 Air Force Falcons men's ice hockey season is the 54th season of play for the program and the 16th season in the Atlantic Hockey conference. The Falcons represented the United States Air Force Academy and were coached by Frank Serratore, in his 25th season.

## Season

After the worst season for the program in 25 years and likely its most trying, Air Force returned to the ice ready to put COVID-19 in the past. At the start, senior netminder and team co-captain, Alex Schilling, got the starting role but didn't perform particularly well. The Falcons got off to a 2–5–1 start with Schilling allowing nearly 5 goals a game on average. Despite the horrid start, Frank Serratore stuck with Schilling and the goals against slowly declined as the team got into its conference schedule.
A bad stretch at home in November sent the Falcons to the bottom of the Atlantic Hockey standings. While they recovered a bit by taking a series against Canisius, Air Force opened the second half of its season getting swept by American International. Fortunately, the rest of January was kind to the Falcons and they won five of their next six games to pull back into the middle of the pack. The team was up and down in the final month of the regular season and Air Force ended up 6th, guaranteeing them a bye into the conference quarterfinals, but making them do so on the road.
Air Force began its postseason against their fellow service academy, Army. The first game was a see-saw battle that saw both teams take two 1-goal leads. The Falcon offense opened up on Army's goal, firing 51 shots in nearly 4 periods of work and managed to earn the overtime victory. The second match was just as close with the teams again trading leads but, again, Air Force netted a goal in overtime to sweep the series and make the semifinals. Their match against RIT turned out to be a series of short-lived leads for Air Force as the Tigers tied the game quickly on three separate occasions. Near the mid-point of the third, however, the Falcons finally were able to hold onto their lead and fended RIT off for the final 10 minutes to send the team to the championship game. Air Force's season ended with a thud when the team was completely dominated by AIC, 0–7. The Falcons kept the game close initially, but the team got into penalty trouble, taking 40 minutes worth of infractions, and allowed four power play goals.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Erik Anderson | Goaltender | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Marshall Bowery | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Thomas Daskas | Forward | United States | Transferred to Miami |
| Max Harper | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Noah Kim | Defenseman | United States | Transferred to Wisconsin–River Falls |
| Shawn Knowlton | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Zach LaRocque | Goaltender | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Jacob Levin | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Keenan Lund | Forward | United States | Transferred to Augsburg |
| Alex Mehnert | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Zachary Mirageas | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Guy Blessing | Goaltender | United States | 20 | Chandler, AZ |
| Lucas Coon | Forward | United States | 19 | Steamboat Springs, CO |
| Clay Cosentino | Forward | United States | 21 | Framingham, MA |
| Andrew DeCarlo | Forward | United States | 21 | Huntington Beach, CA |
| Mitchell Digby | Forward | United States | 21 | Ottawa Lake, MI |
| Jason Kleinhans | Forward | United States | 20 | Herndon, VA |
| Jasper Lester | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Colorado Springs, CO |
| Frederick Paine | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Duluth, MN |
| Austin Schwartz | Forward | United States | 20 | Parker, CO |
| Drake Usher | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Upland, CA |

## Roster

As of August 23, 2021.

## Standings

2021–22 Atlantic Hockey Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | OW | OL | SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #18 American International †* | 26 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 97 | 61 | 38 | 22 | 13 | 3 | 134 | 95 |
| Canisius | 26 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 43 | 76 | 67 | 35 | 16 | 16 | 3 | 99 | 97 |
| Army | 26 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 42 | 75 | 68 | 35 | 14 | 17 | 4 | 98 | 100 |
| RIT | 26 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 41 | 69 | 82 | 38 | 18 | 16 | 4 | 92 | 115 |
| Sacred Heart | 26 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 40 | 72 | 70 | 37 | 15 | 18 | 4 | 95 | 100 |
| Air Force | 26 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 76 | 80 | 36 | 16 | 17 | 3 | 99 | 127 |
| Mercyhurst | 26 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 75 | 79 | 39 | 16 | 19 | 4 | 114 | 129 |
| Niagara | 26 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 70 | 79 | 36 | 11 | 22 | 3 | 82 | 122 |
| Bentley | 26 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 70 | 78 | 36 | 14 | 20 | 2 | 94 | 117 |
| Holy Cross | 26 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 56 | 72 | 37 | 12 | 23 | 2 | 77 | 108 |
| Championship: March 19, 2022 † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion (Riley Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll |||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Exhibition ||||||||||
| October 2 | 6:00 PM | at Colorado College* | Ed Robson Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (Exhibition) | | W 2–1 | 3,502 | |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 8 | 5:00 PM | at Michigan State* | Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, Michigan | Schilling | W 3–2 | 4,420 | 1–0–0 |
| October 9 | 5:00 PM | at Michigan State* | Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, Michigan | Schilling | L 1–5 | 4,918 | 1–1–0 |
| October 15 | 7:05 PM | #11 Denver* | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Schilling | L 1–4 | 2,623 | 1–2–0 |
| October 16 | 6:07 PM | at #11 Denver* | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | Schilling | L 0–8 | 4,926 | 1–3–0 |
| October 23 | 3:00 PM | at Lindenwood* | Centene Community Ice Center • Maryland Heights, Missouri (Exhibition) | | W 6–1 | | |
| October 24 | 3:00 PM | at Lindenwood* | Centene Community Ice Center • Maryland Heights, Missouri (Exhibition) | | W 7–3 | | |
| October 29 | 7:05 PM | Colorado College* | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (Battle for Pikes Peak) | Schilling | W 5–4 $^{OT}$ | 2,650 | 2–3–0 |
| October 30 | 5:07 PM | at Colorado College* | Ed Robson Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (Battle for Pikes Peak) | Schilling | L 1–8 | 3,570 | 2–4–0 |
| November 5 | 5:05 PM | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | Schilling | L 3–4 | 880 | 2–5–0 (0–1–0) |
| November 6 | 3:05 PM | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | Schilling | T 3–3 $^{SOW}$ | 765 | 2–5–1 (0–1–1) |
| November 12 | 7:05 PM | Bentley | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Schilling | W 2–1 | 1,968 | 3–5–1 (1–1–1) |
| November 13 | 5:05 PM | Bentley | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Schilling | L 4–5 | 1,895 | 3–6–1 (1–2–1) |
| November 19 | 7:05 PM | Sacred Heart | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Schilling | W 3–2 | 1,925 | 4–6–1 (2–2–1) |
| November 20 | 5:05 PM | Sacred Heart | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Schilling | L 1–3 | 1,390 | 4–7–1 (2–3–1) |
| November 22 | 7:05 PM | Sacred Heart | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Schilling | L 2–4 | 1,350 | 4–8–1 (2–4–1) |
| November 23 | 7:05 PM | Sacred Heart | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Schilling | L 1–3 | 1,207 | 4–9–1 (2–5–1) |
| December 3 | 7:05 PM | Canisius | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Schilling | W 5–2 | 1,652 | 5–9–1 (3–5–1) |
| December 4 | 5:05 PM | Canisius | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Schilling | T 3–3 $^{SOW}$ | 1,565 | 5–9–2 (3–5–2) |
| January 1 | 5:35 PM | at American International | MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts | Schilling | L 2–5 | 182 | 5–10–2 (3–6–2) |
| January 2 | 2:05 PM | at American International | MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts | Blessing | L 3–4 | 299 | 5–11–2 (3–7–2) |
| January 14 | 7:05 PM | Niagara | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Blessing | W 5–4 | 1,157 | 6–11–2 (4–7–2) |
| January 15 | 5:05 PM | Niagara | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Blessing | W 3–2 | 1,456 | 7–11–2 (5–7–2) |
| January 21 | 5:05 PM | at Mercyhurst | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | Schilling | W 5–2 | 120 | 8–11–2 (6–7–2) |
| January 22 | 2:05 PM | at Mercyhurst | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | Schilling | W 5–3 | 120 | 9–11–2 (7–7–2) |
| January 28 | 7:05 PM | Army | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Schilling | L 3–8 | 3,032 | 9–12–2 (7–8–2) |
| January 29 | 5:05 PM | Army | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Schilling | W 3–2 $^{OT}$ | 2,175 | 10–12–2 (8–8–2) |
| February 4 | 5:00 PM | at Canisius | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | Schilling | L 2–4 | 523 | 10–13–2 (8–9–2) |
| February 5 | 5:00 PM | at Canisius | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | Schilling | W 3–2 $^{OT}$ | 424 | 11–13–2 (9–9–2) |
| February 11 | 7:05 PM | Holy Cross | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Schilling | L 2–3 | 1,327 | 11–14–2 (9–10–2) |
| February 12 | 5:05 PM | Holy Cross | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Schilling | L 2–3 | 1,542 | 11–15–2 (9–11–2) |
| February 18 | 5:05 PM | at Bentley | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | Schilling | W 4–1 | 1,498 | 12–15–2 (10–11–2) |
| February 18 | 3:05 PM | at Bentley | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | Schilling | T 4–4 $^{SOL}$ | 1,250 | 12–15–3 (10–11–3) |
| February 25 | 7:05 PM | RIT | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Schilling | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 1,401 | 12–16–3 (10–12–3) |
| February 26 | 5:05 PM | RIT | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Schilling | W 1–0 $^{OT}$ | 1,465 | 13–16–3 (11–12–3) |
| Atlantic Hockey Tournament ||||||||||
| March 11 | 5:00 PM | at Army* | Tate Rink • West Point, New York (Quarterfinal game 1) | Schilling | W 5–4 $^{OT}$ | 1,251 | 14–16–3 |
| March 12 | 5:00 PM | at Army* | Tate Rink • West Point, New York (Quarterfinal game 2) | Schilling | W 3–2 $^{OT}$ | 1,350 | 15–16–3 |
| Air Force Won Series 2–0 ||||||||||
| March 18 | 5:35 PM | vs. RIT* | Adirondack Bank Center • Utica, New York (Semifinal) | Schilling | W 4–3 | 1,072 | 16–16–3 |
| March 19 | 5:35 PM | vs. American International* | Adirondack Bank Center • Utica, New York (Championship) | Schilling | L 0–7 | 250 | 16–17–3 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Mountain Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Will Gavin | F | 35 | 16 | 13 | 29 | 73 |
| Willie Reim | F | 32 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 16 |
| Brandon Koch | D | 36 | 3 | 22 | 25 | 22 |
| Clayton Cosentino | F | 36 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 18 |
| Nate Horn | F | 33 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 19 |
| Sam Brennan | D | 34 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 38 |
| Parker Brown | F | 34 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 21 |
| Mitchell Digby | D | 36 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 33 |
| Luke Rowe | D | 35 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 54 |
| Andrew DeCarlo | F | 36 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 20 |
| Lucas Coon | F | 36 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 10 |
| Austin Schwartz | F | 36 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 |
| Jacob Marti | F | 33 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 58 |
| Brian Adams | F | 36 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 10 |
| Bennett Norlin | F | 36 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 |
| Blake Bride | RW | 31 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 11 |
| Luke Robinson | D | 36 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 37 |
| Drake Usher | D | 21 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Ty Pochipinski | F | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Andrew Kruse | D | 23 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Billy Duma | F | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Maiszon Balboa | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jason Kleinhans | F | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Austin Park | G | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dalton Weigel | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Guy Blessing | G | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jasper Lester | D | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Alex Schilling | G | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | | | 99 | 168 | 267 | 480 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Austin Park | 11 | 80 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 31 | 0 | .912 | 2.23 |
| Guy Blessing | 17 | 198 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 80 | 1 | .889 | 3.02 |
| Alex Schilling | 34 | 1897 | 14 | 16 | 3 | 111 | 802 | 2 | .878 | 3.51 |
| Maiszon Balboa | 5 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | .667 | 9.27 |
| Empty Net | - | 23 | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 36 | 2212 | 16 | 17 | 3 | 127 | 917 | 3 | .878 | 3.44 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | - | NR |
| USA Today | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 24.

## Awards and honors

| Player | Award |
| Brandon Koch | Atlantic Hockey Third Team |
| Mitchell Digby | Atlantic Hockey Rookie Team |
| Clayton Cosentino | Atlantic Hockey Rookie Team |
| Brandon Koch | Atlantic Hockey All-Tournament Team |
| Will Gavin | Atlantic Hockey All-Tournament Team |