2019-20 Air Force hockey player survey, part 5

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Brady Tomlak. Photo courtesy of Paat Kelly and Air Force Athletics

Posted By: FlightChief December 30, 2019

The eyes have it. So do the brains.

Part 5 of AFAFlightPath.com’s exclusive player survey examines which Air Force hockey players are deemed to excel in thinking the game, on-ice vision and dominating on the face-off dot.

Players were polled anonymously in early December. The survey included 25 questions that covered a range of skills. Nearly 80 percent of the players on the Air Force roster responded.

Part 1 examined skating

Part 2 dealt with strength, checking and toughness

Part 3 revealed the shooting stars

Part 4 tracked the good hands Falcons

Now on to part 5 of our exclusive Air Force hockey player survey:

Question 15: Which player has the best on-ice vision?

  • Zach Mirageas – 6 votes (27 percent)
  • Shawn Knowlton – 4 (18 percent)
  • Matt Pulver, Brady Tomlak – 3
  • Carter Ekberg, Erich Jaeger, Luke Manning, Keegan Mantaro, Alex Mehnert, Ty Pochipinski – 1

Analysis: Ten players make this list representing every class and skater position. This suggests the overall depth of this Falcons roster is good, as are the players’ hockey brains. Speaking of ….

Question 16: Which player has the best overall hockey sense?

  • Matt Pulver – 4 (18 percent)
  • Zach Mirageas – 3
  • Erich Jaeger, Brady Tomlak – 2
  • Marshall Bowery, Blake Bride, Kieran Durgan, Carter Ekberg, Max Harper, Shawn Knowlton, Brandon Koch, Luke Manning, Keegan Mantaro, Pierce Pluemer, Luke Rowe – 1

Analysis: Hockey sense, hockey IQ, whatever you want to call it, the Falcons have this in spades. A total of 15 players were cited, more than half of the roster. There are many ingredients to the Falcons’ success, but brain power is a major component.

Question 17: Which player most consistently wins important face-offs?

  • Brady Tomlak – 20 (91 percent)
  • Bennett Norlin, Ty Pochipinski – 1

Analysis: I’m ready to rename this the Tomlak category. The senior has been a stud on the dot every season he’s been at the Academy. The real drama is who will wear the title belt in this category next season.

Next: Getting defensive

First half: The Flight Path’s midseason report breaks down the highs and lows of the Falcons’ first 16 games.

What changed from previous years? Satisfy your curiosity by reading our 2018-19 season and 2017-18 season surveys.

©First Line Editorial 2019

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