A handful of Colorado Springs college hockey players have led the country in scoring the past 10 years, but until now, none from the city’s north side.
It’s probably too early to begin a Hobey Baker Award campaign at the Air Force Academy, but the Falcons’ Eric Ehn is a player of the year candidate.
Ehn, a junior center from Dexter, Mich., enters this weekend’s two-game series against RIT leading the country in goals (10), points (18) and points-per-game (2.25).
Ehn follows former Colorado College stars Brian Swanson, Peter Sejna, Marty Sertich and Brett Sterling as America’s top amateur scoring threat from Colorado Springs.
“As a team we’re doing a lot of things right, and one of them is getting opportunities to score goals,” said Ehn, who amassed 23 goals and 57 points in 68 games in his first two seasons at the Academy. “I’m definitely a little surprised how things have gone this year, but in the offseason you work hard so when things get going you’re ready.
“What I’ve focused on the most this year is getting ready for every game. The pucks are going in, but being prepared has gotten me the opportunities.”
Ehn centers the Falcons’ top line – the country’s highest-scoring threesome – with Andrew Ramsey and Mike Phillipich. They have combined for 18 of the team’s 26 goals and 42 of the 75 points. Ramsey is fifth nationally with 13 points (five goals), and Phillipich is tied for sixth with 11 points (three goals).
“We’ve had some great chemistry,” Ehn said. “A lot of it comes from how much we work outside of practice. Before and after practice, we work on little things that you don’t have drills for, like batting passes around. Our chemistry has come at a price, and things are starting to snowball in a positive way.”
Still, Air Force’s offense is deemed one-dimensional. If Ehn’s line doesn’t produce, the Falcons typically lose. They are averaging 3.25 goals per game – which ranks 23rd among 59 teams nationally – despite getting shut out twice. AFA was blanked 2-0 by No. 11 Notre Dame on Saturday after beating Alabama-Huntsville 7-5 the previous night.
“No doubt about it, (Ehn’s) line is scoring and others aren’t,” Falcons coach Frank Serratore said. “That’s always been our problem; we’re always a quart low in the scoring department. But we compete real well overall, and we’ve got a go-to line that every team in the country would want.”
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
COLLEGE HOCKEY
Colorado College (3-4-1, 0-2 WCHA)
Opponent: No. 15 Michigan Tech (5-1, 2-0 WCHA)
When: Tonight (7:30) and Saturday (7 p.m.)
Where: Colorado Springs World Arena
Radio: KYZX 103.9 FM
Notes: CC has lost four consecutive games. … The Tigers are 34-1-7 against Michigan Tech since the 1993-94 season, yet underdogs against the upstart Huskies this weekend.
Air Force (3-5, 1-1 AHA)
Opponent: Rochester Institute of Technology (3-3-1, 3-0 AHA)
When: Tonight and Saturday, 7 p.m.
Where: Cadet Ice Arena
Note: AFA went 2-1-1 against RIT last season; the all-time series is even at 4-4-1.
MIKE CHAMBERS
