Johnny Hrabovsky (3) and fellow seniors A.J. Reid and Tyler Rostenkowski will make their first NCAA Tournament appearance Friday. Photo courtesy of Paat Kelly, Air Force Athletics
It wasn’t as if going to an NCAA Tournament should be that unusual.
When current Air Force seniors Johnny Hrabovsky, A.J. Reid and Tyler Rostenkowski enrolled at the Academy as freshmen the Falcons were just one year removed from going to the NCAAs four seasons in a row (2009-12). Surely they’d be right back in Division I hockey’s final 16.
But sometimes things work out differently than planned, and that’s what makes the No. 15 Falcons’ berth in the 2017 NCAA Tournament, where they will play No. 8 Western Michigan on Friday at 5:30 p.m. MDT in Providence, R.I., so especially sweet for the trio.
“It’s awesome,” Hrabovsky said this week. “Before I came in here. AF was the powerhouse of Atlantic Hockey. They had won it four out of five years. I was expecting to make two or three3 of these. It’s not as easy as they made it look from 2009-12. Hopefully we can make something happen when we’re out there.”
The Falcons (26-9-5) made plenty happen from Thanksgiving on, going 20-4-3 since the Saturday after Turkey Day, including a 4-0 run through the AHC playoffs. They allowed just two goals total in the AHC postseason.
The senior trio found themselves the midst of a bit of a roster transition for the Falcons. Initially part of veteran teams, last season they were part of one that was nearly entirely composed of underclassmen. Yet Air Force came within an overtime goal in the AHC semifinals last season of having a chance to play for an NCAA berth.
“We’re extremely grateful that we’re getting the opportunity,” Hrabovsky said. “Everything came together really well this year. We had a good chance last year. Coach said it best, we were a year too young. We’re definitely ready this year.”
Hrabovsky, who is a co-captain with junior Dylan Abood while Reid is an alternate captain, said last season’s leaders laid a foundation for this season’s success.
“Last year we learned from Max Hartner and Ben Carey. Their leadership was outstanding,” Hrabovsky said. “The camaraderie and tightness of this group got us through the humps we couldn’t last year. That’s the experience coming into play because we were a tight group last year, too.”
The next experience for the Falcons’ three seniors, as well as all of their teammates, will be a new one, but one they’re relishing – the NCAA Tournament.
