Air Force Academy

July 7, 2009

2009-10 Schedule in PDF Format

USAFA, Colo. - The Air Force hockey team opens the 2009-10 season on Monday, Oct. 5, with an exhibition game against the University of Calgary at the Cadet Ice Arena. Four days later, the Falcons open the regular season with a two-game road series against the Bemidji State Beavers, a team that played in the 2009 Frozen Four. The regular-season home schedule begins on Oct. 16-17 with a two-game series against Alabama-Huntsville at the Cadet Ice Arena.

The Falcons begin Atlantic Hockey Association play with a two-game home series against league power RIT, Oct. 23-24, at the Cadet Ice Arena. The home schedule is also highlighted by a game against the Denver Pioneers, Saturday, Feb. 6.

Air Force is coming off of three straight AHA championship seasons. The Falcons tied for the AHA regular season championship last season and then won the conference tournament with consecutive shutout victories over Bentley and Mercyhurst. After advancing to their third straight NCAA Tournament, the Falcons earned their first ever NCAA win with a 2-0 victory over third-ranked Michigan. The Falcons finished the season with a 28-11-2 overall record, the most wins in school history. The regular season title was the first in school history and the Falcons beat two teams (Colorado College and Michigan) that were ranked third in the nation. Air Force was ranked as high as 10th in the nation last season and was 16-4 at home in 2008-09.

Five seniors from last season have graduated and will leave big holes to fill. However, goaltender Andrew Volkening returns for his senior season. A first-team all-AHA selection and two-time NCAA all-tournament team member, Volkening ranked second in the nation with 28 wins last season, was sixth with a 1.97 goals-against average and 19th with a .920 saves percentage. He holds nearly every Air Force goaltending record and played every minute of every game last season. The team's leading scorer, All-American Jacques Lamoureux, returns for his junior season. Last season, Lamoureux led the nation with 33 goals. The Falcons also return four of the top seven scorers. Air Force returns 70 percent of its goal scoring and 62 percent of its points from last season. Senior Jeff Hajner was selected as the team captain along with assistant captains senior Brett Nylander, senior Matt Fairchild and junior Lamoureux.