April 23, 2008

Final Tallies Air Force finished the 2007-08 season with a 21-12-6 overall record. The Falcons won the Atlantic Hockey Association championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. Air Force finished third in the AHA with a 14-9-5 record. The Falcons were the third seed in the AHA Tournament. AFA swept Bentley in the quarterfinals, then defeated RIT in the semifinals before edging fifth-seeded Mercyhurst, 5-4, in double overtime.

Back-to-Back Champions Air Force became the first team in Atlantic Hockey Association history to win back-to-back conference championships. The Falcons defeated RIT, 5-0, in the semifinals to record the first shutout and largest margin of victory ever in an AHA semifinal game. The Falcons then defeated Mercyhurst, 5-4 in double overtime, in the second longest tournament game in league history. Including the AHA quarterfinal round, AFA outscored its opponents, 22-7, in the four games. Air Force and Boston College (Hockey East) are the only teams in the tournament this season to win consecutive league championships.

The Big Dance Air Force made its second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament and for the second consecutive time, lost a one-goal game to one of the top teams in the nation. In 2007, Air Force led Minnesota, the overall No. 1 seed in the tournament, 3-1, with just over eight minutes left. The Gophers came back for a 4-3 win. This season saw the Falcons take Miami, the overall No. 2 seed in the tournament, into overtime, before falling, 3-2. AFA led 2-1 with seven minutes left in the third period. Miami tied the game on the power play and then won the game just under five minutes into the extra period.

Unbeaten Streak Was Longest in Nation Prior to the loss in the NCAA Regional, Air Force's nine-game unbeaten streak was the longest in the nation. The Falcons were 8-0-1 and outscored its opponents by a combined score of 43-12. AFA won four of the games by shutout (7-0 at Mercyhurst, 3-0 at Canisius, 5-0 vs. AIC and 5-0 vs. RIT). The streak was the longest in school history vs. Division I teams and the longest since the school-record 11-game unbeaten streak in 1974-75. The five-game winning streak was the longest since last season's six-gamer.

Slap Shots

* Air Force's nine-game unbeaten streak was the longest in the nation (8-0-1)
* AFA outscored its opponents, 43-12, in during the streak
* Since getting swept at Army, AFA was 9-2-2
* AFA has won back-to-back AHA titles and earned consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament
* AFA is 0-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, losing to Minnesota, 4-3, last season in Denver and Miami, 3-2 in overtime, this season in Worcester, Mass.
* Frank Serratore has led Air Force to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 18 years
* AFA's 21 wins are the most Division I victories in school history
* AFA has won a school record 40 games the last two years (20 at home and 20 on the road)
* AFA has four players with 10 or more goals and seven players with 25 or more points
* Greg Flynn was fifth in the nation in points by a defenseman with 31 points
* Brent Olson led the team with 18 goals and tied with Jeff Hajner for the team lead with 39 points.
* Andrew Volkening played every minute in the nets in the last 22 games. He was 10th in the nation in GAA at 2.08 and had a .911 saves percentage. Both marks set new school records
Volkening was selected as the team's MVP
* AFA was eighth in the nation in scoring offense and 12th in the nation in scoring defense

Who's Back
The top six scorers and 11 of the top 13 will return for the 2008-09 season. Also, the team's top four defensemen and starting goaltender all return. Sophomore Andrew Volkening played every minute in the second half of the season and set new school records with a 2.09 goals-against average and a .911 saves percentage. Greg Flynn, a second-team all-conference defenseman, returns to lead the defensive corps along with returners Michael Mayra, Brett Nylander and Brad Sellers. Those four defensemen did not miss a game during the season. Junior Brent Olson and sophomore Jeff Hajner tied for the team lead with 38 points. Flynn, who ranked fifth in the nation in scoring by a defenseman, had 31 points. Sophomore Matt Fairchild had 29, junior Josh Frider had 27 and freshman Derrick Burnett had 26. Air Force returns 84 percent of its goal scoring (109 of 130) and 80 percent of its points (294 of 366) from this past season.

Back-To-Back Rare Feat at Academy The Air Force hockey team became the first team in Academy history to win back-to-back conference championships at the Division I level in any sport. In fact, the two conference championships are the second most outright titles in AFA history. The cross country team won the Western Athletic Conference championship in 1992 and 1996 and the Mountain West title in 2004. The football team tied for the WAC title in 1985 and 1995 and won the championship outright in 1998.

AFA Set School Record with 21 Division I Wins Air Force's 21 Division I wins this season are the most in school history. The 21 wins are the third-most overall in school history. The 1971-72 team won 25 games while the 1974-75 team won 24. The previous record for Division I wins was 19 set last season. The 21 wins are the most in 11 years under Frank Serratore.

Back-to-Back Winning Seasons Air Force clinched a winning season for the second consecutive season. The Falcons were 21-12-6 overall this season. Head coach Frank Serratore has led the Falcons to consecutive winning seasons for the first time in his 11 years. It also marks the first time in 18 years (1988-89 and 1989-90) that Air Force has had consecutive winning seasons.

The Air Force -- Not the Bus Force Over the last two years, Air Force has been the best road team in Atlantic Hockey. Air Force's 10 Division I victories away from home (road and neutral) this season tie the school record set last season. AFA's 20 Division I road wins are the most in back-to-back years in school history. The 10 road wins are the second most in school history and the most since AFA won 11 road games in 1971-72 (mostly against non-Division I teams).

Seeing Double The last two seasons mark the two best years in 40 seasons of Air Force hockey. The Falcons have won back-to-back league championships, played in consecutive NCAA Tournaments and have won a school record 40 games in two season. Of the 40 wins, 20 have come at home and 20 on the road.

Most Division I Wins By Class The Class of 2008 has won more Division I games in four years (65) than any other class in school history. The class won 14 in 2005, 11 in 2006, 19 in 2007 and 21 so far this season. The Class of 2007 won 58 games.