Air Force (0-1) vs. No. 9 Notre Dame (0-1)

Saturday, 6 p.m., Cadet Ice Arena

Streaming / Radio: Flohockey.tv / 1300 AM

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

This is Game 2 of the Ice Breaker Tournament for both teams. Air Force and Denver are co-hosting the event, a first in the tournament’s history. Air Force and Notre Dame will look to bounce back from losses Friday. … The Falcons were OK in a 4-1 loss vs. Maine. The game turned early in the third period when the Black Bears scored twice in less than 2 minutes to extend their 2-1 lead at the time to the final margin. Mitchell Digby scored a 5-on-3 power-play goal for Air Force late in the second period. Freshman Aaron Randazzo made 28 saves in place of presumed starter Guy Blessing, who was out with an injury. … The Fighting Irish fell 5-2 at Denver. Notre Dame twice pulled to a goal on tallies by Ryder Rolston and Chase Blackmun, but the Pioneers pulled away in the third period. Ryan Bischel made 22 saves.

The game pits two of the deans of college hockey coaches. Air Force coach Frank Serratore has 475 career victories (426 at the Academy) in 29 seasons. Notre Dame’s Jeff Jackson, who launched the U.S. National Team Development Program roughly 25 years ago, has more than 500 NCAA victories and has guided teams to the Frozen Four seven times, winning twice while at Lake Superior State in the early 1990s.

©First Line Editorial 2022