This weekend’s battle for Colorado Springs hockey supremacy, with the Pike’s Peak Trophy at stake, figures to ratchet up the intensity even more for Air Force and Colorado College.

You’d think it would be even moreso in the Pochipinski household.

That’s because on the one hand there is Air Force junior center Ty Pochipinski. On the other is his father Trevor, who played 157 games for CC in the late 1980s and early ’90s. An added twist is Ty also made a four-game cameo for the Tigers in 2018, before he returned to juniors.

Divided loyalties? Not really, Ty said this week.

“My parents (his mother Kristen also went to CC) are more fans of hockey than anything,” he said. “They enjoy good hockey and enjoy watching all of their sons’ teams.”

And the Pochipinski’s have had plenty to watch over the years.

Trevor, a defenseman who played professionally in the American Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League for parts of three seasons, was a longtime coach of Cheyenne Mountain High School, guiding the Indians to multiple Colorado state titles. Ty and younger brothers Tanner and Travis played youth and high school hockey up and down the I-25 corridor. Tanner, who is two years younger than the 23-year-old Ty, also played junior hockey and currently is at the University of Regina in Trevor’s native Saskatchewan. Travis attends UCCS.

From Tiger to Falcon

There was never a question in Ty’s mind that he wanted to play hockey as long as he could. That he had multiple options to continue to do it so close to home made things all the better.

Both AFA and CC recruited him after he had a 21-goal season for Cowichan Valley (BCHL) in 2017-18.

“It was a tough decision,” Pochipinski said. “The main factor (in choosing CC) was the desire to play hockey after college.”

When he found himself in and out of the lineup and unsure where he fit in the Tigers’ plans, he decided to return to the BCHL, this time to powerhouse Penticton. Meanwhile, the Falcons – whose roster had been decimated by consecutive large graduating classes – took note.

“He had visited here, and we were well aware of what he was capable of,” Falcons coach Frank Serratore said.

The few, the proud, the transfers

Transfers are rare, but not unprecedented, at the Academy. Exhibit A for that would be Jacques Lamoreaux, who went on to become an All-American and ensconced himself high up the Falcons’ all-time scoring list. Lamoreaux returned to the Academy a few years back and has served as a volunteer assistant coach with the program.

When the Falcons showed renewed interest in Pochipinski, the feeling was mutual.

“My cousin and my uncle had played soccer at the Academy,” Ty said. “I realized what I wanted outside of hockey. The schooling was the challenge I wanted.

“I began thinking about the big picture. I’m definitely glad I am where I am.”

Wake-up call

Pochipinski has not missed any of the 54 regular-season games the Falcons have played during his first two-plus seasons at the Academy. So it was surprising that he wasn’t in the lineup for the first of Air Force’s two exhibitions against Lindenwood last weekend.

“He’s been a vanilla player for us,” Serratore said. “He sat Friday, and that was done to send a message to him. … We think there is more there.”

Pochipinski has 10 points in those 54 games, and offense is part of the issue.

“One of my key focuses this summer was getting better on face-offs, and another was working on my shooting so I can contribute more offensively,” he said.

The rest of the package is sound.

“There’s a lot there,” Air Force assistant captain Blake Bride said. “He sees the ice very well and is very disciplined. He’s very good on draws, and he makes it look easy because he’s always in the right defensive spot. His hockey brain is a cut above.”

That upside is what the coaching staff wants to unlock.

“At his best he is a safe player with a good all-around game,” Serratore said. “He could play on any line. He needs to be a reliable bottom-six guy who kills penalties. But he could play on a top-two line if we needed him to.”

Trophy hunting

Back to the Falcons-Tigers matchup. The Pike’s Peak Trophy was created in 2013 in honor of the late John Matchefts, who coached at both schools. It had taken up residence at Cadet Arena until the Tigers wrestled it away in 2018.

Pochipinski, Bride and Co. want that to change this weekend. Early returns – in the form of Air Force’s 2-1 victory at Colorado College’s new Robson Arena on Oct. 2 – offer promise.

“We obviously circled this series on our calendar,” Pochipinski said. “We don’t want to try to put too much emphasis on it, but we are playing for a trophy.

“I don’t want to try to put extra pressure on myself (because I played at CC). More than anything I look at games like this as a treat. It shows what I’ve been able to accomplish and what I have left to accomplish.”

Notes

Unlike the series against Denver two weekends ago, there is an added layer of personal pride at stake when the Falcons and Tigers meet. That’s because so much of the teams’ roster is comprised of Colorado natives. In addition to Pochipinski and Bride, the Falcons have six other Colorado natives. The Tigers have five.

“We were super excited to help them open their barn,” Bride said. “So many of us grew up playing with and against each other that we have some friendly banter. It’s all business on the ice, but we all know how much each other cares about the game and wants to win.” …

The Falcons are expected to have sophomore captain Luke Rowe back in the lineup. Rowe, who had goals in each of AFA’s first two games, sustained an injury during the first period of the game against Denver on Oct. 16 and did not play at Lindenwood last weekend. Junior goaltender Austin Park, who has emerged as the No. 2 behind senior co-captain Alex Schilling in net, and junior assistant captain Willie Reim won’t play this weekend due to injury. …

The Falcons put up 13 goals in the two victories against Lindenwood and all three of Schilling’s backups – Park, as well as sophomore Maiszon Balboa and freshman Guy Blessing saw action. Sophomores Will Gavin and Parker Brown had four points in the second victory, while freshman Clayton Cosentino scored twice in the opener. “Gavin and Brown’s line put up the points, but the way we played, you couldn’t tell the difference between our top line and our fourth line,” Serratore said after Saturday’s victory. “The key for us is having all four lines play hard and within our structure. We need to do what we do and do it well. This series was all about us and our preparation for Colorado College.”

©First Line Editorial 2021