A primary difference for Air Force in its past three games – all victories – has been its surging offense.
Consider that 13 of the Falcons’ 32 goals this season have come in those three games, including four on Feb. 1 at Bentley, which just so happens to be their opponent in next Tuesday afternoon’s first-round Atlantic Hockey playoff game.
One of the main drivers of the output has been a recently constructed line of senior Shawn Knowlton and sophomore Willie Reim riding shotgun with freshman center Thomas Daskas. The trio has 14 points in the past five games, including eight of the Falcons’ 19 goals in that span. Overall, they have 37.5 percent of Air Force’s goals this season and almost 29 percent of their points.
“We all bring something different,” said Knowlton, who is in the homestretch of a Falcons career that often has been derailed by injuries. “Daskas has good speed, can think the game and has good hands. Willie has one of the best shots I’ve seen.”
Shawn Knowlton. Photo courtesy of Marty French and Air Force Athletics
Knowlton has seven points in nine games this season, including four goals. He entered the season with nine points and one goal in 52 career games.
“He’s a clever player with good hands and speed,” Falcons coach Frank Serratore said. “He does everything right. He has great hockey sense, he competes. There is not a guy more respected in our locker room than him.”
Reim has noticed a big difference in his linemate this season.
“You can see he’s more confident now,” Reim said. “It’s tough to gain your footing when you’ve had injuries, and it took him some time, but now he’s willing to make moves and tries to get everyone involved.”
The 5-foot-8 Knowlton also has benefitted from more room on the ice thanks to his line mates.
The 6-2 Daskas has advanced more quickly on the learning curve than anyone could have hoped. He has seven points in 13 games and is solid on the face-off dot (50 percent).
“You could see right away he’s a great player,” Knowlton said. “He’s adjusting well, and each game he’s getting better. He does a lot of good things in the D zone. He doesn’t have the points he’d like but he’s doing things the right way and helping our team.”
Reim, just a year removed from his own transition into Academy life, said he’s amazed at the pace at which Daskas acclimated himself.
“There is this natural progression we all have to go through at the Academy, and it’s hard as a freshman to make an impact,” Reim said. “He’s done it well. He’s good at compartmentalizing the school work, the military stuff and hockey.”
Remember, this is just Year 1. The future might be something to behold.
“We got lucky with him,” Serratore said. “There is unlimited potential.”
Air Force forward Willie Reim. Photo courtesy of Air Force Athletics
Reim has been the Falcons’ most noticeable forward all season, and it’s not only because he’s 6-3 and possesses a Howitzer of a shot.
He began building momentum at the end of his freshman season, scoring goals in the Falcons’ final three games before the campaign was ended after the first round of the AHA playoffs. He picked right up where he left off and has team highs of 11 points and five goals. Projected over a full season, he’s likely have 15 goals and 30-plus points, numbers that would warrant all-conference consideration.
“His growth has come in a lot of areas – speed, strength, overall confidence,” Knowlton said. “He’s making good decisions with the puck, and he’s shooting it a ton.”
Reim leads the team with an average of three shots on goal per game. That’s not breaking news because his 75 shots were second most on the team a year ago. The importance is – on a team that has had its share of offensive struggles – Reim has the look of a consistent goal scorer, one opponents will have to honor.
While this group will give Bentley something to think about, they’re certainly not the only Falcons on a heater. The second line of Max Harper, Nate Horn (AHA’s rookie of the month) and Bennett Norlin also is picking up steam.
Harper has five of his six points in the past four games, Horn has four of his six and Norlin had half of his six assists in the sweep of Canisius. Harper and Horn each had two goals in Game 2 of the sweep. Then there is sophomore defenseman Brandon Koch, who has put up four of his seven points in the past two games.
“The whole team is making magic,” Serratore said. “We’re scoring more, and we’re a good team.
“At 0-9-1 the group could have quit, but they didn’t. The DNA our kids possess is something special.”
©First Line Editorial 2021
