The Air Force Falcons face off against American International College in men’s hockey, Oct. 25, 2024. (U.S. Air Force Academy)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Tribune News Service) — Air Force hockey coach Frank Serratore’s analysis of Friday night’s loss was as simple as the final score.
“This game is our formula. We held them to one goal and we gotta find our way to some goals,” Serratore said after a 1-0 setback. “Pretty evenly-played game, penalties were pretty even, shots were pretty even. When it was all said and done, they found their way to a goal and we didn’t.”
Bentley winger Kellan Hjartarson made the game-deciding play 65 seconds into the third period, beating Air Force senior goalie Guy Blessing with a shot from the left point at Cadet Ice Arena.
Air Force (10-12-1) outshot Bentley (12-7-2) 33-30 and Blessing made 29 saves to Bentley netminder Connor Hasley’s 33.
Friday marked the third time the Bentley junior goaltender has shut out Air Force this season.
“Obviously going into tomorrow, not only do we need to score but we have to solve Hasley, he’s shut us out three times in a row,” Serratore said.
The veteran Air Force coach called both goaltenders the top two stars of the game. They played like it Friday, trading skillful saves.
Blessing stopped a shorthanded breakaway from Bentley center and captain Ethan Leyh on Air Force power play late in the second period. He also stopped a second-chance opportunity for Bentley in the third, sticking his leg pad out for the save while prone.
Hasley accomplished similar feats on the other side of Cadet Ice Arena. He denied Air Force junior defenseman Chris Hedden on a breakaway just after the Falcons killed a penalty in the third period.
After the host Falcons pulled Blessing for an extra attacker late in the game, Serratore noted that Hasley made a “sneaky great” save with his right leg on an Air Force shot from the point.
The good news for the hosts is that Air Force has been in this very position in their last two series. Before the holiday break, Air Force lost to Niagara in overtime the first night of the series. The Falcons also lost to Sacred Heart on the first night as well.
Air Force won both times on the second night.
“Coming off of tough losses on Friday, we’ve bounced back on Saturday and we need to do the same thing this weekend,” Serratore said.
(c)2025 The Gazette
Visit The Gazette at www.gazette.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
