Greg Flynn once couldn’t get Air Force hockey coach Frank Serratore’s attention. Now his coach thinks he’s an All-American.
Flynn came to Air Force from the hockey hotbed of Minnesota (Lino Lakes), but hadn’t seen a minute of ice time as the 2005-06 season moved into late November.
“When you don’t play in the first half of your freshman season, you’re wondering what is going to happen,” Flynn said.
But Serratore had questions.
“Greg is a very mild-mannered, softspoken gentleman off the ice,” Serratore said, remembering that he wasn’t sure Flynn’s makeup could translate to a force on the ice.
That question was soon answered.
“When he gets on the ice and puts that helmet on, he becomes a warrior,” Serratore said of Flynn. “He may be the fiercest competitor I’ve ever coached.”
Flynn’s qualities have led Air Force to three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. The Falcons (27-10-2) play Friday against Michigan (29-11-0) in the East Regional in Bridgeport, Conn.
This season, Flynn was defensive player of the year and first-team all-conference in the Atlantic Hockey Association. He is No. 1 nationally in scoring among defensemen, with 40 points in 39 games.
“I guess the coaches were skeptical at first that I could play at the pace they wanted,” Flynn said. “I got a chance to play in a couple of exhibition games during the Thanksgiving break my freshman year and haven’t looked back since.”
Flynn’s break came in Bad Toelz, Germany, where the Falcons played two games on a quick European trip.
From what was a meager beginning, Flynn has more than lived up to his hockey roots. He even has bragging rights over younger brother Ryan, who plays for one of college hockey’s strongest programs, the Minnesota Gophers.
Ryan Flynn got the initial upper hand when the Gophers beat the Falcons 4-3 in an NCAA regional two years ago at the Pepsi Center. The Falcons also lost in the first round last year, a 3-2 overtime decision to Miami (Ohio).
But the Gophers didn’t make the NCAA Tournament this year, leaving Ryan Flynn with two appearances in the postseason event and Greg Flynn with three.
“I talked to everybody back there and it was pretty somber about Minnesota not going to the tournament,” Greg Flynn said.
The Falcons’ defense with Flynn as their leader has been a big factor in their success. During the AHA Tournament, the Falcons earned the automatic bid to the NCAAs with two shutouts, blanking Bentley 3-0 and Mercyhurst 2-0.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
