Erik Anderson, an affable junior goaltender from the State of Hockey drops by to go one on one with The Flight Path.

Can you tell me about your family’s background in hockey?

My dad actually played a year with (coach) Frank (Serratore) at Bemidji State. My sister plays St. Katherine’s University in Saint Paul, Minn. She’s also a junior. My cousins played up until college.

What brought you to the Academy?

When I was little I had this fantasy of being a fighter pilot, and someone had told me about the Air Force Academy. Growing up I always had a fascination about coming here. Once I got into high school I realized my grades might not be good enough so I decided to focus more on hockey and see if that could go anywhere. I got really lucky with Frank seeing me at the showcases in the summer. I got real lucky to come here.

What is Coach Serratore’s style as a coach of goalies?

He’s very passionate about making sure we’re the best we can be. It’s very difficult at times. There’s times where he gets on us.  … Obviously, a lot of that falls on us during the summer and when he’s not doing direct goalie coaching with us. He just wants us to be the best we can be, but it probably involves the most work of any position on the team.

What explains the camaraderie of Air Force’s close-knit goalie group?

We all know what everybody is going through. Last year with Billy (Christopoulos), when we had a stretch we weren’t doing so well, we were with him in saying, ‘You’ve played really good.’ And we helped him through that. With Rocky (junior Zach LaRocque) this year, he’s finally getting his chance to be the full-time starter. We rally around each other because we know what each other is going through.

You mentioned wanting to be a fighter pilot, is that the direction you’d like to go with your Air Force career?

Last year when I had my eye exam, it turned out I couldn’t fly. It’s unfortunate as it is, I kind of knew that might be a possibility. I’m not devastated by it, but I’m glad that I’m here. There’s plenty of other opportunities out there for me.

Halloween is coming up. Do you have a favorite costume?

When I was young there was probably a good four-year stretch when I was a hockey player every year. I’ve had all the other ones like astronaut. But hockey player is the go-to one.

Has anyone on the team who has been particularly clever with their costumes?

The only one I can think of is Alex Mehnert. He was Harry Potter. We don’t really dress up to impress. We dress up to fit in. We’re on a budget here.

Do you have a favorite Halloween candy?

Skittles or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

Who on the team might make a good president some day?

Probably Brady Tomlak. When he walks into the room everybody shifts focus to him. He’s got a lot of radical ideas, but I think he would get the support just by being him. If everyone got to know his personality, he’d win in a landslide.

Which of your teammates have the hardest shots?

It’s funny. I don’t really focus on who’s got the hardest shot. I focus on who’s going to hit me in the head. It’s a tie between Shawn Knowlton and Tomlak. I try to avoid them. Tomlak shoots a muffin and he doesn’t have a whole lot of control with it. Knowlts just tries to go top shelf every time.

We’ve established breakfast as the most important meal of the day, so what is the breakfast of champions?

I’ve flip flopped on breakfast. I was always a pancake guy. I’m starting to become a big waffle guy. I’ll have some eggs with them.

Have you had a favorite road trip at the Academy?

It would have to be Vegas last season. Just being able to be in the Knights’ locker room and play in that rink. It was an awesome experience. Being in Las Vegas in the winter was nice, too. … My freshman year we saw the World Trade Center site in New York, and that was a very humbling experience.

Didn’t Air Force players get to ring the siren before the start of a period at a Golden Knights game?

They have that castle where they do that. We all went up there and elected Tomlak to ring the siren before the third period when the Knights came out? That was pretty cool, too.

And lastly, I have to ask … if Coach Frank was a superhero, which one would he be?

I heard Max (Harper) say Hulk, but I don’t really think he’s the Hulk. What do other guys say?

It’s run the gamut. Some say Superman, some say Batman … Wolverine is another one. 

Woverine is not a bad choice. He can get angry, but it’s not like the Hulk going crazy. Wolverine can control himself, at least a little bit.

©First Line Editorial 2019