Air Force Academy

Sept. 27, 2007

The Air Force hockey team was picked to finish second in the Atlantic Hockey Association in the annual coaches poll released Sept. 26, at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y.

The preseason ranking is the highest ever for the Falcon hockey team. RIT, the 2006-07 regular-season champions, were picked to win the league with eight of the 10 first-place votes and 80 points. Air Force, the 2006-07 AHA tournament champions, received one first-place vote and 67 points. Army, who finished third last season and fell to the Falcons in the championship game, was picked third with 58 points. Mercyhurst received the other first-place vote and was picked fourth with 55 points.

Sacred Heart, last season's top seed in the AHA Tournament, was picked fifth followed by Holy Cross, UConn, Canisius, Bentley and AIC.

Air Force returns five of the top six scorers from last season, including leading scorer Eric Ehn (24-40-64), No. 3 scorer Mike Phillipich (16-28-44), No. 4 scorer Jeff Hajner (13-14-27) and No. 5 scorer Josh Schaffer (7-14-21). The Falcons return 69 percent of its goals and 72 percent of its point production from last season.

The Falcons open the season on Monday, Oct. 8, with an exhibition game against the University of Calgary at 7:05 p.m. at the Cadet Ice Arena. The first regular-season game is Friday, Oct. 19, at 7:35 p.m. against Quinnipiac. The first AHA series is Friday-Saturday, Oct. 26-27, at Bentley College in Waltham, Mass. AFA's first home conference series is Friday-Saturday, Nov. 2-3, vs. Mercyhurst at 7:35 p.m. each night.

2007-08 AHA Preseason Coaches Poll

No. 	Team (First-Place Votes)	Points
1. 	RIT (8)	                  80
2. 	Air Force (1)	         67
3.	Army	                  58
4.	Mercyhurst (1)         	55
5. 	Sacred Heart        	54
6.	Holy Cross	         45
7.	UConn               	34
8.	Canisius           	25
9.	Bentley             	23
10. 	AIC                	9