Having a true star player can be a double-edged sword, as Air Force found out this week.
On the one hand, a tall, athletic and skilled goaltender such as Shane Starrett can help a program ascend to heights it has reached just once in its history – the final eight of the NCAA tournament.
On the other, when a player such as Starrett plays as well as he has for two seasons, and then turns it up a notch in leading his team on a long playoff run, the big guys take notice.
Starrett this week announced, after much deliberation, that he had signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers. The Falcons’ season ended two weeks ago in an NCAA regional final with a 3-2 loss to then No. 2 Harvard.
The sophomore said he was caught off guard by the attention.
“I had no idea this could actually possibly happen,” Starrett said. “After we lost to Harvard in the NCAA tournament that’s when my family advisor told me there were some teams interested in me.
“A week goes by and he tells me these teams might want to make an offer, would you take it? Talking to our coaches, we thought it was (something to consider). You never know when it could happen again.”
Starrett said he and Falcons coach Frank Serratore, a goalie in his playing days, talked daily throughout the process.
“He obviously wanted me to come back,” Starrett said. “He and I have a great relationship over the two years. In the end, he’s happy for me. He knows it’s a great opportunity for me, but he probably wanted me to come back next year.”
Starrett was voted the winner of the Chuck Delich Award as team MVP for the second season in a row. Starrett also was the MVP of Atlantic Hockey’s final four and finished in the top five in the nation in goals-against average (1.98), shutouts (five) and winning percentage (.778). In addition, Starrett (26-6-4) was a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award, which recognizes the top goalie in D-I.
He went on an unbelievable run from December forward, going 19-3-2 in his final 24 starts, allowing just three or more goals only five times in that stretch while giving up zero or one 13 times in that stretch.
“It’s tough losing Shane. Shane was the cornerstone of our team,” Serratore said. “We have a good team but it’s tough when you lose the cornerstone. … We don’t get hit with this type of thing very often, most other schools do, so now we know what it feels like.
“Ultimately he was provided with an opportunity that he decided to take. With everything he’s done for our program we wish him only the best. Hopefully he makes it to the top and makes it there in a hurry.”
The Falcons had one of the best seasons in program history, finishing 27-10-5, winning the AHC tournament and then knocking off a top-10 team in Western Michigan in the NCAA tournament,.
“(The team’s success) really helped me,” Starrett said. “My teammates were really great for me. They helped me along by making me look good.
“Playing in the NCAAs you get more exposure. We hoped we could go one step further. Next year I’m sure they’ll be back.”
Starrett was quick to point out that none of this would have happened without Serratore taking a chance on him when Boston University, which had recruited him, didn’t have a spot for him in 2015.
“He looked at me and saw potential and took a chance on me,” Starrett said. “I was a down on my luck kid, pretty mentally weak. Everything that the Academy has done for me really toughened me up mentally, gave me the mental strength to play at this level when Frank was really one of the only coaches in the nation who could see me playing at this level.”
Starrett had no designs on pro hockey back then.
“I came here just hoping to play,” he added. “When I first came here I wasn’t even the starter. I wanted to prove to myself I was a starter.
“I came to the Academy for the education because at the time I didn’t think I could play professional hockey. What came down was academics and a chance to serve my country. Then this opportunity came that I honestly did not see coming.”