The Falcons have spoken.
Five months after Air Force’s players voted rising senior Matt Pulver the team’s captain for the 2019-20 season, they voted classmates Erich Jaeger, Trevor Stone and Brady Tomlak as assistant captains.
Trevor Stone
“Matt Pulver has done a fabulous job in leading our group through the spring and fall workouts,” Air Force coach Frank Serratore told the school’s official website. “The addition of Jaeger, Stone and Tomlak only strengthens our current leadership.”
All four will be counted on to shepherd a team that has graduated 15 seniors the past two seasons – the most successful classes in program history. The Falcons have brought in 12 freshmen for this season.
“Jaeger’s got a bigger leadership role this season,” Pulver told The Flight Path earlier this month. “I know a lot of the younger guys look up to him a lot, and he plays the right way. He plays a hard, solid defensive game, but he contributes in the offensive zone as well.”
Working with younger teammates is nothing new for Jaeger, who has six siblings. His 74 career games are the fourth most on this season’s team.
Brady Tomlak
Stone and Tomlak are two of the players ahead of him on the career gameslist, and the former junior teammates in Springfield, Ill., are players the Falcons will rely on heavily not only for leadership but offense as well.
“Those guys are really key to our offensive game,” Pulver added. “Brady is really good in the defensive zone and Trev can handle the puck pretty well. We’re going to be relying on those guys.”
Stone has reached double figures in points during each of his first three seasons, and his nine goals last season were a career high.
The gregarious Tomlak has had 18, 17 and 18 points during his first three seasons. His eight goals last season were a high-water mark at the Academy. He’s also exceptional on face-offs and on the penalty kill. His 53 career points and 109 games both lead the Falcons.
Increase in rank
When you’ve got a good thing going, why mess with success? So score one for continuity and staff harmony when assistant coaches Joe Doyle and Andy Berg were promoted to associate head coaches last month.
The pair of former Falcons players – among the best in the program’s history – have a combined 27 years experience working on AFA’s staff, much of it with Serratore.
“Winning like we have over the last 13 years is not easy anywhere, let alone at a service academy,” Serratore told the school’s website. “I watch what Andy and Joe contribute to the program on a daily basis, and they are two of the very best in the business.”
No arguments here. All three men are among the best at what they do, and they could not be any more accommodating to work with.
If you want some good news out of the government, this is it.
©First Line Editorial 2019
