Air Force Academy

Nov. 23, 2009

11/25/09 -The Coach's Internet Show

Complete Release in PDF Format

This Week * Air Force (6-5-3, 6-1-3 AHA) is off. Following the Thanksgiving weekend, AFA hosts four straight home games * Next home series is Friday-Saturday, Dec. 4-5, vs. AIC, at 7:05 pm each night at Cadet Ice Arena

Toy Trick * For the 10th consecutive year, the Air Force hockey team will help brighten the holiday season for area children with the annual Toy Trick at the AIC series, * Fans can bring a new stuffed toy, wrapped in plastic, and when the Falcons score their first goal in each game, fans can throw the stuffed toy on the ice. All fans with a toy donation will receive admission for just $2. * The toy trick will be offered both nights. The toys will be collected and then distributed to children in local hospitals and clinics during the holiday season. In the first nine years of the Toy Trick, the team collected and distributed more than 5,000 toys.

Radio/Internet * Both AIC games will be broadcast in Colorado Springs on The Sports Animal AM 1300 and on the internet at GoAirForceFalcons.com * Pregame show is at 6:35 p.m. MST with faceoff at 7:05 p.m. MST each day * 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 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 204-217-35 (13th year at AFA) and a career mark of 253-309-44 (17th year) * AIC's Gary Wright (Vermont, 1976) has a 260-438-51 school and overall record in his 26th year with the Yellow Jackets

Scouting the Yellow Jackets * AIC is 2-8-1 overall and 2-6-1 in the AHA this season * AIC has taken three points from Holy Cross and split with Army this season, but the Yellow Jackets were swept and shutout in both games by Canisius last weekend * AIC's top scorer, and two of the top three are freshman. The team's top defenseman and goalie are also freshmen

The Streak * Air Force is on a current seven-game unbeaten streak with a 4-0-3 record. * Since a 3-1 loss at Canisius, AFA beat Canisius, 4-1, and took three points each from Bentley, Holy Cross and UConn * The streak is the fourth-longest unbeaten streak in the AHA, but two other AHA teams are also streaking. * RIT has the longest winning streak in the nation. After getting swept at Air Force, the Tigers' eight-game winning streak is the longest in the nation. Canisius has a six-game unbeaten streak, the sixth-longest in the nation

The Turnaround * Air Force lost its first four games and averaged just 2.0 goals per game while allowing 4.2 * Andrew Volkening's GAA was 5.91 and his saves percentage was .805 * However, in the last 10 games, AFA is 6-1-3 and averaging 2.9 goals per game while allowing just 1.9 * Andrew Volkening's GAA in the last 10 games is 1.65 and his saves percentage is .942 * Shots and special teams have been relatively the same in the first four games and the last eight

Off to Better Starts * Part of Air Force's problem early in the season was playing from behind. The opponent scored the first goal in the first five games of the season and AFA was 1-4 in those games. * However, since then, AFA has scored the first goal in six of the last nine games. In games when Air Force scores first, the Falcons are 5-0-1

Special Teams Are Special --- PK #1 in Nation * Both of Air Force's special teams units are among the best in the nation. * The penalty kill is No. 1 in the nation at 92.4 percent this season, killing 61 of 66 opponent power plays * AFA had a streak of 24 consecutive kills before UConn scored a power play goal on Nov. 20 * AFA has now killed 33 of the last 34 opponent power plays * Nine times (in 14 games) Air Force has held its opponents without a power play goal. Just once have the Falcons allowed more than one PPG * The power play ranks 10th in the nation at 23.2 percent. In the 14 games this season, Air Force has scored a power play goal 12 times, including four times with more than one power-play goal * Air Force is 4-3-1 when winning the battle of special teams this season. * Since the beginning of the 2006-07 season, AFA is 52-5-8 when winning the special teams battle and 7-29-4 when losing it.