Colorado Springs is bracing for what could be an unusual college hockey experience this weekend. Not only do rivals Colorado College and Air Force open the season Friday against each other at the Cadet Ice Arena, but the longtime series juggernaut could be considered the underdog in the unusually early nonconference showdown.
Traditional national power CC hasn’t lost to AFA since 1985 – a span of 28 games – and holds the series lead 54-6-2.
But the rebuilding Tigers, picked to finish seventh in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, are young and inexperienced. And the improved Falcons, picked to finish tied for fifth in the Atlantic Hockey Association, are experienced and perhaps as dangerous as they’ve ever been.
“It will be a close game,” said CC coach Scott Owens, who lost nine players from last season and could have eight freshmen in Friday’s lineup. “It’s in their building, and it’s the first game of year. They return (their) top eight scorers; we don’t have a lot of returning scoring, and we’re a very young team.”
Air Force knows the time is ripe to finally beat the city bully.
“We always look forward to the games against CC and DU,” Air Force coach Frank Serratore said. “It gives us a chance to see where we fit on the food chain. We’re excited about this year.
“I think we have a pretty good team. I thought we had a pretty good team last year. The problem last year was our goaltending wasn’t very good and we were anemic at the goal-scoring. But we went up and down the ice just fine with everyone. So this year, we’re optimistic.”
Serratore likened Friday’s game to “Air Force football against Tennessee.”
“Like our football team, we just want an opportunity to win the game late,” he said of the Falcons’ one-point loss to the Vols.
On paper, the University of Denver again has the best amateur team in Colorado. But Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky doesn’t expect CC to struggle.
“Any time you have a team as proud as the Tigers, you give them motivation by not giving them the respect they deserve,” Gwozdecky said. “I know Scott and his staff have recruited very well and have some talented players returning. I don’t doubt at all that they’ll be right in the mix of things in the second half of the season.”
Owens is preaching patience.
“If we can hang in there early and develop some of the young guys, have the old guys get used to their roles, we could be a good team,” he said. “We’ve got (senior) Matt Zaba back in goal, and I like our blue line. If we hang around long enough to improve, we should be pretty good.
“The real challenge will be scoring goals. We hope it’s done by committee. Our goal is to just get better. We know we’re going to have growing pains initially.”
Area teams/outlook
DENVER PIONEERS
Coach: George Gwozdecky, 13th season (276-176-36)
2005-06: 21-15-3, 17-8-3 Western Collegiate Hockey Association (tied for second), eliminated in first round of conference playoffs
Lettermen returning/lost: 16/3
Key departures: D Matt Carle (Hobey Baker Award winner), F Gabe Gauthier (2005 All-American), F Paul Stastny (2006 All-American and WCHA scoring champion)
Key returnees: F Ryan Dingle (team-high 27 goals), D Chris Butler (WCHA all-rookie), F J.D. Corbin (20 points), D Adrian Veideman (17 points), F Patrick Mullen (17 points), G Peter Mannino (12-8-2, 2.71 GAA), G Glenn Fisher (9-7-2, 2.72 GAA)
Top newcomers: F Rhett Rakhshani (U.S. 18-under team), D Keith Seabrook (BCHL), F Tyler Ruegsegger (Shattuck-St. Mary’s), F Matt Glasser (AJHL)
Outlook: Returning seven defensemen and both goalies should allow DU to concentrate on a blue-collar effort and win plenty of close games. … The 14 forwards on the roster are a healthy mixture of veterans and newcomers and figure to gel into a formidable attack over time. … DU needs increased offense from seniors Ryan Helgason and Mike Handza and juniors Geoff Paukovich and Tom May.
Predicted finish: Third WCHA, Frozen Four appearance
COLORADO COLLEGE TIGERS
Coach: Scott Owens, seventh season (177-92-20)
2005-06: 24-16-2, 15-11-2 WCHA, tied for fourth, eliminated in first round of NCAA Tournament by Cornell
Lettermen returning/lost: 17/9
Key departures: F Brett Sterling (team-high 31 goals and 55 points), F Marty Sertich (2005 Hobey Baker Award winner), F Joey Crabb (43 points), D Brian Salcido (40 points), F Aaron Slattengren (18 points)
Key returnees: F Chad Rau (30 points), G Matt Zaba (20-14-2, 2.52 GAA), F Jimmy Kilpatrick (21 points), D Lee Sweatt (21 points), F Derek Patrosso (15 points), F Scott Thauwald (redshirt), F Andreas Vlassopoulos (redshirt)
Top newcomers: F Billy Sweatt (U.S. under-18), D Kris Fredheim (SJHL), F Mike Testwuide (USHL), F Addison DeBoer (Minnesota HS)
Outlook: Potential seems to sum up the Tigers, who lost their top four scorers and seven of their top nine. But Owens has a history of developing great forwards quickly. Keep an eye on freshman wing Billy Sweatt, the younger brother of Tigers defenseman Lee Sweatt. Billy starred for the U.S. under-18 team last season and is considered one of the country’s top incoming forwards. “He going to be really good,” said Owens, who coached Hobey Baker Award winners Peter Sejna (2003) and Sertich and two-time All-American Sterling. “He has tremendous speed and quickness. He can play at that speed, handle the puck and move through traffic at that speed. He’s barely 18 years old, so it’s tough to compare (previous CC stars), but he’s faster than Noah Clarke. He’s dynamic.”
Predicted finish: Fifth WCHA, no NCAAs
AIR FORCE FALCONS
Coach: Frank Serratore, 10th season (130-173-19)
2005-06: 11-20-1 overall; 8-12-0 College Hockey America (tied fourth place) lost in semifinals of CHA playoffs
Lettermen returning/lost: 20/5
Key departures: D Brooks Turnquist (19 points), F Matt Bader (16 points), F Mike Knaeble (11 points)
Key returnees: F Eric Ehn (35 points, second-team all-CHA), F Josh Schaffer (23 points), F Andrew Ramsey (23 points), D Brian Gineo (21 points), F Theo Zacour (17 points), D Michael Mayra (13 points, second-team all-CHA)
Top newcomers: D Chris Hepp (USHL), G Andrew Volkening (NAHL)
Outlook: The Falcons, who left College Hockey America and will be first-year members of Atlantic Hockey Association, return 87 percent of their goal-scoring, including the top eight scorers. Six of the top seven defensemen are back and all three goaltenders. Predicted finish: Fourth, AHA, no NCAAs
