Air Force Academy

Feb. 2, 2010

Complete Release in PDF Format

This Week Air Force (12-10-6, 12-6-6 AHA) faces two teams ranked in the top 15 in the nation this week. AFA travels to 10th-ranked Colorado College (15-10-3, 11-8-3 WCHA), Friday, Feb. 5, 7:35 p.m. at the World Arena. The Falcons host second-ranked Denver (16-6-4, 12-4-4 WCHA), Saturday, Feb. 6, 7:05 p.m. at the Cadet Ice Arena. Air Force is in second place in the AHA with 30 points.

Radio/Internet/Television Both games will be broadcast in Colorado Springs on The Sports Animal AM 1300 and on the internet at GoAirForceFalcons.com Pregame show is at 7:05 p.m. MST on Friday and at 6:35 p.m. Saturday Both games will be video streamed with audio by the B2 Network on a subscription basis. For more information,please go to AtlanticHockeyOnline.com The Denver game will be televised live on Fox Sports Rocky Mountain. Dan Kelly will call the play-by-play, Charlie Host will be the color analyst and Marc Stout will be the rinkside reporter. FSN-RM is on channel 683 on DirecTV, 414 on Dish Network and 35 on Comcast in the Colorado Springs area.

Last Week Air Force lost (4-2) and tied (3-3) at Army Denver swept a two-game series at fourth-ranked North Dakota. Colorado College split a two-game series at home with fifth-ranked St. Cloud State.

The Coaches Air Force coach Frank Serratore (Bemidji State, 1982) is in his 13th season as the Falcons' head coach He has led the Falcons to three straight conference championships and NCAA Tournament berths. Winningest coach in the history of Air Force hockey with a record of 210-219-37 (13th year at AFA) and a career mark of 259-311-46 (17th year) Colorado College coach Scott Owens (Colorado College, 1979) has a school and overall record of 254-143-38 in his 11th season Denver coach George Gwozdecky (Wisconsin, 1978) has a record of 362-223-50 in his 16th season at Denver. He has an overall record of (15 yrs.) 445-317-68 in 20 years as a collegiate coach.

Scouting the Tigers Colorado College is one of the surprise teams in the nation. CC is 15-10-3 overall and 11-8-3 in the WCHA Picked to finish eighth in the league by the coaches and seventh by the media, the Tigers are currently fourth in the WCHA and are ranked 10th in the nation this week. The Tigers rose as high as No. 3 in the national rankings this season in December and early January After a 9-2-1 start, CC is 6-8-2 since with a home split with St. Cloud State last weekend The Tigers are 9-6-0 at home this season CC's power play is third in the nation at 23.7 (37-156) The Tigers are ninth in the nation in scoring office at 3.43 goals per game. However, CC has given up 23 goals in the last five games Senior Bill Sweatt leads the team with 28 points. Mike Testwuide leads the team with 16 goals and six PPG Freshman goalie Joe Howe has a .908 saves percentage and a 2.71 goals-against average Balanced scoring has been a key for the Tigers as six players have 20 or more points and eight have five or more goals

Scouting the Pioneers Denver is 16-6-4 overall this season and 12-4-4 and in first place in the WCHA. The Pioneers were ranked No. 1 in the nation earlier in the season and are No. 2 last week Denver has been one of the most consistent teams in the nation this season. The Pioneers have not lost two games in a row this season and have not have not won more than three in a row all season. DU is 8-4-1 on the road this season including two wins at North Dakota last week DU has 12 players who are NHL draft choices Senior Rhett Rakhshani leads the team with 17 goals and 33 points Senior Tyler Ruegsegger has 13 goals and 29 points Junior Marc Cheverie has a .932 saves percentage and a 2.02 goals-against average. He ranks second and fifth in the nation, respectively, in both categories DU is ranked 13th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 2.54 goals per game DU's penalty kill is fourth in the nation at 88.5 percent

Series with Colo. College CC leads the series, 56-7-2. AFA broke a 25-game losing streak to the Tigers last season with a 4-1 win at the Academy Air Force has never won at the Colorado Springs World Arena (0-8-0) AFA's last win at CC was in 1985, 6-5 in overtime at the Broadmoor World Arena. AFA is 2-28-1 in games played at the Broadmoor/Colo. Springs World Arena In six games since 2003, the games have been close with each team winning once by three goals and three of the other four decided by two goals or less. In the last game at the World Arena, CC had a 2-0 lead in the third period, but a goal by Scott Kozlak made the score 2-1. Andrew Volkening made 29 saves Last year, Volkening made 28 saves and four different Falcons scored in a 4-1 win

Series with Denver DU leads the series 26-3-0 AFA broke a 19-game losing streak to the Pioneers with a 5-2 win in 2008 Matt Fairchild had a hat trick in the game and Andrew Volkening made 29 saves Last season at DU, Scott Mathis' goal in the third period tied the game at 1-1, but DU answered with two goals and added an empty-netter at the end AFA outshot DU, 39-29, in the game AFA is 1-10 all-time vs. DU at AFA