WORCESTER, Mass. — Like he does most mornings, Air Force hockey coach Frank Serratore was out for his daily cup of coffee Friday.
Serratore ordered, then a woman behind the counter told him, “That guy over there just paid for your coffee.” He turned around, and a Boston College fan quipped, “I just didn’t want you to leave Worcester empty-handed.”
Of course, Serratore accepted the complimentary cup. He also accepts the fact that fourth-seeded Air Force will be a heavy underdog, as well as basically a road team, when it faces the No. 1 overall seed, Boston College, in the Northeast Regional today.
Air Force (21-10-7), in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in six years, isn’t given much of a chance against BC (29-10-1), which is on a 15-game winning streak as it shoots for its third national title since 2008.
Boston College coach Jerry York reminded his players of the “really impressive” record Air Force has in the NCAA Tournament. The Falcons are 1-4 all time, having never advanced to the Frozen Four. However, they stunned Michigan in 2009, and all of their defeats have been by one goal — against Yale in overtime in 2011, to Vermont in double overtime in 2009, to Miami in overtime in 2008 and to Minnesota in 2007.
“I don’t care what the records are or who has the publicity,” said York, whose 909 wins are the most among active Division I coaches. “The team that plays best that afternoon is going to move” forward to Sunday’s regional title game against the winner of second-seeded Minnesota-Duluth and third-seeded Maine.
