It’s a group that offers a bit of everything and offers it on a consistent basis. And this is how Air Force Academy’s eight seniors could end their careers as the winningest group in the 50-year-old hockey program’s history.

Dylan Abood, Erik Baskin, Phil Boje, Jordan Himley, Jonathan Kopacka, Ben Kucera, Tyler Ledford and Kyle Mackey have 80 wins to their credit entering the final regular-season weekend of the 2017-18 campaign. The record is 85 wins (classes of 2011 and 2012). The class of 2017 reached 84.

Five of them will finish among the top 100 scorers in program history, and three (Baskin, Ledford and Himley) could end up in the top 50.

It’s also a group that has taken the proverbial next step each season of their careers – going from reaching the Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals in 2015 to losing in overtime of the AHC semifinals in 2016 to not only winning the AHC playoff title but winning an NCAA Tournament game for just the second time in program history last spring.

Talk to the group’s teammates, however, and you get a picture of the eight cadets that extends far beyond numbers – both wins and points.

“They’re an impressive group,” junior goaltender Billy Christopoulos said. “It’s been cool for us juniors; when we came in we were a big part of the team because we didn’t have too many upperclassmen. They were just sophomores but they were leading the way. They did an unbelievable job setting an example and setting the standard for what Air Force hockey is all about.

“Not only what it’s like to be a hockey player here, but the military stuff up on the hill. We owe a ton of our success the past couple of years to that group.”

Sophomore Joe Tyran said it was a group that was there for him both upon his arrival at the Academy and when his freshman season was lost due to a knee injury that required season-ending surgery.

“That whole class is really special to me,” Tyran said. “They’re a very wise group, very intelligent and a very caring group of individuals. They really take care of all the boys, especially for me and my freshman year.

“You come to a new program and you’re skeptical about things, but these guys were super welcoming. They were a class that I connected with the most. They helped me out with a bunch in school, in life and in hockey.”

That the group has remained so outwardly focused while so many have dealt with injuries, both this season and in seasons past, also says something about their leadership, junior defenseman Matt Koch said, adding that the four defensemen in the senior class were invaluable in helping him adapt to college hockey.

“Our class was shown a lot of leadership by them when we came in, what it looks like to get it done every night, what right looks like,” Koch said. “Personally, being able to follow Dylan, Phil, Packs and Mackey on how to play defense, the little details, it’s been huge for me and for our team.”

Every single one of these guys is outstanding to deal with from a media perspective – win, lose or draw. It’s no wonder.

“The common denominator with all of these seniors is they are high character guys, even for Academy standards,” Falcons coach Frank Serratore said.

What follows is a synopsis on each senior followed by quotes from the coach himself.

Defenseman Dylan Abood

The scouting report: The Colorado native is a revered two-time captain and a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award. He also has been an academic all-conference pick every year and on the Dean’s list every semester at the Academy. … He has overcome being a 5-foot-8 defenseman by being one of the team’s toughest – and smartest – players. An excellent skater, he has 26 points in 113 career games.

Frankly speaking: “He was made for this place. He’s a kid (people thought was) too small. Nobody else would take a chance on him. Well, people forgot to measure the size of his heart. He has great legs – same as Chad Hall, who was a great football player here. His attributes outside of his size are extraordinary – his toughness, his character, his mental toughness and his leadership abilities. … He’s among the top captains we’ve ever had. He’s in that club.”

Forward Erik Baskin

The scouting report: Unbelievably consistent scorer – he’s hit double figures in goals every season at the Academy and his 13 this season are a career high. His 23 points are one off his career best. With 88 points in 140 games played, he has a real shot at landing in the top 50 point scorers in program history. … An assistant captain, he also was a captain in high school in Minnetonka, Minn. … Another three-time academic all-conference pick and on the Dean’s list every semester.

Frankly speaking: “A class act. A guy who is low maintenance on top of low maintenance. I don’t know if I’ve coached him three times in four years. He’s one of those guys who knows how to play. He’s trustworthy and he’s got a good all-around skill set and a good scoring touch. He’s a quality human being. … He’s not overly physical for a big guy (6-3), but he’s willing to finish checks and block shots. I don’t think those things came naturally to him but he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win.”

Defenseman Phil Boje

The scouting report: A 2017 all-AHC first-team selection after erupting for 30 points (six more than the total of his first two seasons) and ringing up a plus-16. … A tough, physical defender and shot blocking machine. One of three assistant captains this season, he has a devastating slap shot. … The Minnesota native has 67 career points in 136 games and is 84th on the program’s all-time scoring list. … Won a USHL Clark Cup in junior with Dubuque.

Frankly speaking: “He’s a big, strong, defensive defenseman with a big shot. He’s another guy who is tough and willing to stick his nose into whatever he needs to. We don’t have a lot of physical presence on our team, but he brings plenty of it.”

Forward Jordan Himley

The scouting report: Possesses an eye-popping skill set – speed, hands, shot. He joined Boje as an all-conference pick last season when he buried 22 goals (more than his other three seasons combined) among his 37 points. … On the Dean’s list every semester and academic all-conference every year. … He’s right behind Baskin and Tyler Ledford on the career scoring list with 84 points and has been on a tear to close the regular season.

Frankly speaking: “He and Ledford bring an exceptional skill level. Himley has the prototypical college hockey player skill set, he can do it all. He can skate, he can pass and he can shoot. He’s not very big (5-8) but he can be physical. … I look for guys like that who have it all but maybe not the great size. … When he’s on his game, he’s among our best players.”

Defenseman Jonathan Kopacka

The scouting report: The Michigan native has overcome major shoulder and ankle injuries the past two seasons, yet has managed to play 103 games and counting. … He has 32 career points and brings a bit of everything to the Falcons’ blue line. Has two of his four career goals this season. He is truly a plug-and-play defenseman.

Frankly speaking: “Another good all-around guy. … He’s become one of those guys who is a high, high character kid. His greatest strength is he doesn’t possess a great weakness. He can – and does – play whatever role we ask him to.”

Forward Ben Kucera

The scouting report: A very capable scorer who hit 15 goals and 25 points in 2015-16. … Has one of the best – if not the best – releases on the team and an extremely accurate shot. … The Kansas native has 59 career points in 122 games, but 10 of his 29 goals are game-winners, and several of those have come in playoff games and overtimes.

Frankly speaking: “There’s a guy who has a real scorer’s touch. He has scored a lot of big goals in his career – he ended Bentley’s season last year after we didn’t play him in the first game of that (AHC) series. He scored the game-winner – and only goal – against Army in the AHC semifinals, and he scored the game-winner last Saturday against Canisius. He’s got a knack for scoring and scoring when it counts.”

Center Tyler Ledford

The scouting report: An electrifying player who is surprisingly strong in the face-off circle despite barely weighing 160 pounds. The assistant captain grew up in the Colorado Springs area. He has 85 career points in 140 games, and is a gifted set-up man with a deceptive shot. Very elusive skater and an exceptional stick handler. … He’s been on the Dean’s list all but one semester at the Academy. … A junior teammate of Kucera’s in Wichita Falls.

Frankly speaking: “He is the diminutive dynamo (at 5-9). He can go east-west as fast as he can go north-south with the puck. He sees the ice well. He’s one of those players who lifts those around him. We don’t get a lot of those types of players, but he has that ability. His (caring) level is extremely high.”

Defenseman Kyle Mackey

The scouting report: An honest, two-way defenseman who also played well during a stretch at wing this season when injuries decimated the Falcons up front. The upstate New York native has 31 points in 119 career games. … Very consistent and a plus player each of the past three seasons.

Frankly speaking: “Another high-quality guy and he’s played different positions for us without complaint. He played defense on a conference championship team and he played forward for us this season and did well. … He and Boje bring an honest, tough presence in our zone, and they’re going to be tough to replace.”

 

To sum it up

“This is a class where I would recruit every guy again,” the coach said. “If I could hit copy and paste I would.”

Or as Serratore’s nephew Matt, a junior forward for the Falcons, said, “This is a tremendous senior class. They’ve done a lot for the program. They’re a group of winners and guys who care about one another and care about their teammates. They care about hockey and they care about winning. It’s been a special group to be around. You learn a lot from them. Hopefully we can emulate them next year because the way they’ve led this year has been exceptional.”

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