When duty calls for Air Force’s Andrew Kruse, the junior is ready, willing and able to answer, regardless of where he’s placed.

A defenseman by trade, the 6-foot, 190-pound Kruse has played at least as much at forward as he has on the blue line during the past two seasons. It speaks to his willingness to help his team any way he can.

Although he scored in a win against Canisius, and he has 41-point season for the Minnesota Magicians of the North American Hockey League during his final junior season, Kruse’s calling card at the NCAA level has been his defense.

The affable native of Delano, Minnesota, a small town due west of the Twin Cities, took time this week to answer our questions in the latest edition of The Flight Path’s One-timers.

You seem to be a Swiss Army Knife for the Falcons. How challenging is it to move from position to position in-season?

It was a challenge, but you have to focus on doing the best you can given the situation you have. So if you’re in the lineup at forward, do the best you can, prepare yourself as best you can. This past Saturday I was in at forward. You try to think about the situations you might encounter. I’ve played more forward now (than defense) so it’s been better. I’m still trying to work on the skills to play forward and D. The hardest thing for me has been collecting the puck along the wall in the D zone. When a puck is run around to you, you have to be able to read if you’ll have time to handle the puck to make a play. I’ve tried to think about the situations that are different, then work on those skills. So when you do find yourself in a different spot you’re prepared. This year, (coach) Frank (Serratore) has told me, ‘You can be our utility guy.’ If we have a hole at D I can fill in at D. If we have a hole at forward, I can fill in at forward. I’m just trying to be ready to come in and be the best I can for whatever spot Frank needs me in.

Did you mainly play D growing up?

Yes, I played D all through high school and juniors. Actually the last time I played forward was early in youth hockey. It’s been a while until the past year here.

Being from the State of Hockey, I’d imagine you started playing young?

When did you start playing hockey?

I started on the backyard rink with my brothers and friends, and probably in first or second grade started playing organized hockey, just like a lot of kids in Minnesota do.

You have five siblings, do many of them play as well?

I’m the second oldest. I have an older brother, and three younger brothers and a younger sister. Everyone quit hockey at one point. Four of us have graduated high school, and three played hockey through high school. My younger brother in high school plays hockey at Delano, and my youngest brother played when he was younger but it wasn’t his thing. I’m glad he could make up his own mind and didn’t play just because the rest of us did. It’s always fun going home and playing some outdoor hockey with them.

What was the appeal of the Air Force Academy for you, and did you have any military members in your family?

My grandpa was in the military for a few years, but that’s it. I was playing juniors and thought either Air Force or Army would be of interest to me for a variety of reasons. … I wanted to be part of a team that was more than just hockey. You have a great school, you’re serving your country. There’s just a lot more to it. … One of my best friends growing up (John Keranen) also played junior with me, and he committed to Army about a month before I committed to Air Force. Together, we were making the decision that this military academy experience would fit our personalities perfectly. So I started talking to Air Force, and it was a pretty easy decision once I came on a visit.

As a junior you’re not too far away from getting an assignment, so what types of career aspirations do you have in the military?

I’m an economics major, and acquisitions, financial management and contracting are the fields that interest me the most. Acquisitions is my first choice. I think it would be a fun experience because you get a taste of a lot of different roles within the military. That would be an interesting place to start and see what interests me most and go from there.

Have you had any favorite trips or experiences at the Academy or even?

This past Saturday against West Point was pretty special (a 3-2 overtime win). There’s something special about playing another service academy. Colorado College at the beginning of this year, those games are always special. The outdoor game my freshman year was unique. That was the first time I got to play in an outdoor game. In junior, I played in the NAHL and we made quite a few trips to Kenai and Fairbanks, Alaska. It’s fun that hockey can take you different places like that.

Do you have a favorite meal?

When we go on the road it’s always good to go to steakhouses. There’s one Italian steakhouse we go to when we’re in Rochester (N.Y.) that I really like.

Did you have a favorite team or player growing up?

I like the Minnesota Wild, but I was more of a (University of Minnesota) Gophers fan. One of the guys I liked watching was Mike Reilly, when I was in Bantams and starting high school. He’s in the NHL now with Boston. My dad would always take us to the Gophers games more than the Wild. It’s funny I grew up watching more college hockey than NHL. As far as the NHL, I really like to watch (Jared) Spurgeon of the Wild.

Are you into gear at all?

Growing up, having a good pair of skates and having them sharpened correctly was important. I wasn’t picky about anything else. Here you can have your skates customized by width, length if you want to down to the quarter size. With our sticks it’s nice. I used to use Bauer but we have Warrior here, and they will modify the stiffness of it, which I like a lot. You can make them your own. That’s half the battle, finding something you like and sticking with it.

If you were to nominate the president from among your teammates, who would it be?

I think Luke Rowe would be good. He has a dynamic personality, so he’d be good at motivating a group, that’s kind of why he’s captain. Other than that, Luke Robinson, he’s just absolutely crushing it in the classroom, he always has energy. Who knows what he’ll accomplish.

Which teammate would make a good talk-show host?

(Sophomore goaltender) Maiszon Balboa is pretty funny. He could have good, quality conversation about any topic you’d want to bring up. He knows a lot about random different things, he’s got a lot of personality. He’d be pretty entertaining to listen to.

Maybe I should start a podcast with him.

You should. I’d listen to it.

Thank you to Andrew for his time!

©First Line Editorial 2022