Air Force (2-3-1) vs. Colorado College (2-4-0)
Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Ed Robson Arena; Saturday, 7 p.m. at Cadet Arena
Streaming / Radio: AT&T SportsNet and NCHC.tv (Friday), Altitude2 and Flohockey.tv (Saturday) / 1300 AM
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Can Air Force regain the Pike’s Peak Trophy this weekend? This group of Falcons seniors has not held it at any point during their careers, and as Ty Pochipinski said this week, they’re very motivated to get it back. AFA was on its way to recapturing it last season with a Friday night overtime win at Cadet Arena before completely imploding at CC, 8-1, thanks to an array of penalties. In order to retake the trophy, the Falcons will need at least a win and a tie if not two wins this weekend. Obviously keeping their cool will be one key to that. … The teams played an exhibition four weeks ago that Colorado College won, 5-1.
After missing the first three games due to injury, sophomore Guy Blessing has taken over the Air Force net, and Atlantic Hockey recognized him as its Goalie of the Week after he helped the Falcons split with RIT last week. Blessing made a compelling save on a penalty shot with 57 seconds left to preserve Friday’s win. … Air Force has gone on the offensive this season, scoring an average of nearly four goals per game, although they had a total of five vs. RIT. The ringleaders of the offense have been wings Willie Reim and Will Gavin (4 goals, 8 points apiece) and the top defensive pair of Luke Rowe (7 points) and Brandon Koch (6). … Outside of offense, the teams are very close statistically by most other measures, including both special teams, face-offs, and shots taken and allowed. Both teams are in the top 15 nationally in face-offs at about 53 percent. … One concern for the Falcons is injuries. Center Jake Marti and defensemen Sam Brennan, Andrew Kruse and Drake Usher are expected to miss the game.
Will the real Tigers team please stand up? CC swept Alaska Anchorage by a combined 10-3 three weeks ago, then it lost four in a row to St. Lawrence and Arizona State by a combined 20-5. The guess here is the answer is somewhere in the middle. The Tigers have gone with a Friday goaltender (senior Matt Vernon) and a different Saturday goalie (freshman Kaidan Mbereko). Grad student Bryan Yoon (5 assists), fellow defenseman Nicklas Andrews (2 goals, 3 assists) and junior forward Hunter McKown (3, 2) are CC’s top scorers. The Tigers lost six players to the transfer portal and did not import anyone, instead choosing to stick to second-year coach Kris Mayotte’s plan of rebuilding the program from the ground up. They brought in eight freshmen, and several of them play.
©First Line Editorial 2022
