It makes plenty of sense that Air Force’s Kyle Haak is the winner of the Senior CLASS Award for NCAA Division I men’s hockey.

The award encompasses the total hockey player, a true leader if you will, someone who excels in class, the community, in character and in competition. Anyone who’s ever dealt with the forward could tell you that. When you have an acronym that stands for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, well, to me that sounds like Haak. But don’t take my word for it.

“I have had the privilege of coaching a great number of extraordinary young men at the Air Force Academy and none more exceptional than Kyle Haak,” Falcons coach Frank Serratore said in a news release. “His list of accomplishments are well-documented. In addition to being an elite scholar and high-level athlete, Kyle is also a highly decorated cadet who leads by example in every facet of his life. Kyle embodies all the Senior CLASS Award represents and more.

“He is a very special young man and an outstanding selection for this prestigious award.”

Beyond his exceptional personality traits, any further discussion about Haak has to continue with his academic prowess. Put another way, this guy is a top-line player in the class room as well as on the ice.

He’s made the dean’s list and the superintendent’s list every semester he’s been at the Academy. He’s a two-time academic All-American (probably soon to be three times), a three-time academic all-conference pick (soon to be four) and a carrier of a 3.90 cumulative grade-point average with a physics major.

Last year, he was selected as the Cadet of the Year, the most outstanding cadet among all commissioning resources in the entire Air Force Academy (16,000 people). In the last half of 2018 he also was the USAFA Cadet Squadron 31 Commander, meaning the highest-ranking cadet in the squadron. That has led to some unique opportunities for Haak, something he discussed in one of our Falcon Hockey Podcasts last fall.

Then there is his volunteerism in the Colorado Springs area, where he has served with the Marion House Soup, Serenity Springs Colorado, the American Red Cross and also has assisted families with special needs children.

And let’s not forget his contributions on the ice, as he played a key role in Air Force reaching the NCAA Tournament’s final eight in 2017 and 2018. He was part of a senior class that finished tied for the most wins in program history as well.

This past season, his 12 goals tied for the team lead and his 22 points were tied for second. He finished his career with 87 points (65th most in program history). His high-water mark in that department came in 2016-17, when he had career highs of 14 goals and 33 points and combined with linemate Jordan Himley for 70 points.

“I am extremely humbled by this award because of all the incredible accomplishments of the other candidates and amazing hockey players who have been a part of this award in the past,” Haak said in a news release. “The Air Force coaching staff gave me a chance to play Division I hockey when no one else was willing to fully commit to a third-year, age-out, junior hockey player. This changed my life trajectory forever.

“Once at the Academy, I was supported by academic faculty and military mentors to pursue opportunities in academics and military leadership while being a student-athlete. The discipline and teamwork that hockey taught me over the past two decades will carry forward in my education and service in the U.S. Air Force.

“The Air Force hockey team, senior class, coaches, academic advisors and other mentors were crucial to making post-graduation opportunities possible. My experiences as a student-athlete will always be a part of me as I move forward.”

Haak is the second student-athlete from Air Force to win the Senior CLASS Award for men’s hockey after Jacques Lamoureux, a current volunteer assistant for the Falcons, accomplished it in 2011.

PODCAST: Haak discusses the Senior CLASS Award

©First Line Editorial 2017-19