No. 17 Air Force vs. University of Lethbridge

When/where: College hockey exhibition at 6 p.m. Monday at Cadet Arena

Air Force hockey update

The Falcons enter the 2017-18 season with high expectations, having lost just three seniors and goaltender Shane Starrett from a team that won 27 games (second most in school history) and came within an eyelash of reaching the Frozen Four. The Falcons’ No. 11 ranking by USA Today/USA Hockey and No. 12 by USCHO.com were high-water marks in program history. … Air Force returns 322 points from last season’s team, the most in Division I hockey, and 119 goals, tied for the most with Bemidji State (the Falcons’ opponent in three weeks). … This marks the beginning of Air Force’s 50th season as a Division I hockey program, the transition from club hockey to D-I was made by Vic Heyliger, a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Heyliger coached the Falcons until 1974. He was succeeded by John Matchefts, Chuck Delich (hired in 1985) and current coach Frank Serratore (1998).

Lethbridge hockey update

This will be the third game in three nights for the Pronghorns, who lost in Breckenridge to Colorado College (4-1) on Saturday, and at Denver (3-1) on Sunday. Lethbridge, a school in Alberta, Canada, has a roster comprised primarily of former Western Hockey League and Alberta Junior Hockey League players. Mitchell Maxwell scored against Colorado College, and Brandon Clowes tallied against Denver.

Three Air Force hockey storylines

1. Settling the net – It’s junior Billy Christopoulos and three freshman in contention for playing time with Christopoulos presumably the starter. Former Colorado RoughRIder Zach LaRocque, one-time Pikes Peak Miner Erik Anderson and Will Ulrich also are competing.
2. Don’t get injured – Last season, Falcons defenseman Joe Tyran sustained a torn ACL that eventually required surgery in the exhibition game. Lethbridge will be fatigued after playing the previous two nights, and likely not in a great mood after losing both games (though both were competitive).
3. Who’s that guy? – Not only does the game mark an opportunity to get a look at several freshmen in their first game action, but it offers a chance to gauge the recoveries of Tyran, fellow defenseman Jonathan Kopacka (ankle) and forward Matt Pulver (shoulder). Kopacka and Pulver were lineup regulars before getting hurt, and Tyran would have played.

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