We should get a decent idea of where senior-laden Air Force stands after the first few weeks of the season.
Games against rebuilding Denver, improved Colorado College and a trip to fellow Atlantic Hockey heavyweight Canisius kick off the 2018-19 campaign, and after a home series vs. Niagara, the Falcons head back to the site of one of their greatest triumphs of last season – Tate Rink at Army West Point.
That stretch, and the Falcons’ health after that, could go a ways toward determining where they will fit in the national college hockey scene.
2018-19 SEASON PREVIEW SERIES
Part 2: Air Force’s roster by the numbers
Part 3: Air Force’s most indispensable players
Part 4: Emerging players for the Falcons
Air Force’s template has been to pick up steam as the season rolls along, but as tight as Atlantic Hockey has been of late, and as hotly contested as NCAA berths are, the margin for error – or injury – seems to shrink every season.
After the Falcons’ initial run, they have four consecutive AHC series, including consecutive trips to improved AIC and an RIT team that I think is primed to be one of the top teams in the league, before the Christmas break.
Post holidays, the Falcons play host to WCHA power Bemidji State in the Serratore Bowl and head to Las Vegas for the Ice Vegas Invitational, where a meeting against NCHC power Western Michigan might await in the second game.
The second half of the AHC schedule kicks off with Army’s visit to Cadet Arena and follows an alternating home and road series pattern. One twist, however, is the Falcons actually get a week off in mid-February. Last season, they didn’t have a bye week in either half of the season, and it’s open to debate if fatigue contributed to some of their rash of injuries. So this is a welcome development.
The final analysis: The Falcons avoid a trip to Robert Morris, which I also expect will be one of AHC’s better teams, but they also don’t get RIT at home and Rochester is no walk in the park. They have home and homes against Army, Canisius and Mercyhurst, which should solid AHC contenders. Beyond that, the potential for three games against NCHC foes plus the Bemidji series offer the Falcons a chance to make a dent into the national consciousness. They’ve had to win their way into the NCAA Tournament the past two years, but if they can win three or four of those non-conference games, take care of business elsewhere and finish in the top two in the league, I think there is a chance they could make the big dance regardless. But that probably would take 25-27 overall wins.
NEXT: Taking a closer look at the Falcons’ roster
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