They’ve been the backbone of Air Force’s defense corps for the past two seasons, and they’re the backbone of the Falcons’ leadership group for the 2020-21 campaign.
Seniors Zach Mirageas and Jake Levin were selected co-captains, and fellow senior blue liner Alex Mehnert was joined by senior forward Shawn Knowlton as assistant captains, the program announced this week.
The trio of defensemen are three of Air Force’s four most experienced players entering this season.
Mirageas leads the way with 112 career games. He’s coming off his best offensive season, having scored 23 points (second on the team). A physical player and gifted skater, he was more disciplined last season, lowering his penalties minutes to 41 from an average of 54 the previous two seasons.
Levin (93 games) tied his career high with 13 points and was one of the few Falcons in plus territory. He also thrives on a physical play and moving the puck, but he showed an offensive flair with three goals (more than his first two seasons combined.
Shawn Knowlton. Photo courtesy of Marty French and Air Force Athletics
Mehnert (87 games) is one of the team’s better passers and had 12 points, which also tied his career high.
Knowlton had a career-best seven points last season and emerged as the Falcons’ first call in Atlantic Hockey Shootouts. He’s the son of former Air Force Athletic Director Jim Knowlton.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with the selections made by the team,” coach Frank Serratore told the Academy’s official website. “This group knows what it takes to be successful, and they are great people. I believe the team leadership is in great hands.”
Making the grade
Former Falcons forward Pierce Pluemer might not have said much, but his grades did the talking for him.
Pierce Pluemer. Photo courtesy of Paat Kelly / Pengo Sports and Air Force Athletics
Last month, Pluemer was honored by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) as an All-American Scholar for the fourth season in a row. To qualify, a player had to attain a 3.75 GPA and play in at least 40 percent of their team’s games.
Earlier, Pluemer became the first Academy cadet-athlete to earn an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. He graduated with a 3.87 GPA as an operations research major. He was selected for the Academy’s Graduate Studies Program and is pursuing a master’s degree in economics at the University of South Florida.
The reliable forward played 116 games at Air Force, helping it reach NCAA Tournament Elite Eights in 2017 and 2018.
In good company
Pluemer also was one of 12 Falcons selected to Atlantic Hockey’s all-academic team in June. It was the fourth year in a row he was picked, and he was joined by fellow graduated seniors Matt Pulver, Trevor Stone and Joe Tyran. Others honored included rising seniors Erik Anderson, Marshall Bowery, Max Harper and Knowlton, as well as rising sophomores Brandon Koch, Austin Park, Ty Pochipinski and Dalton Weigel.
Overdue awards
The Falcons also announced their 2019-20 season award winners earlier this summer. They included:
- Pulver as the Vic Heyliger winner. Voted on by his teammates, the captain was recognized for his dedication, character leadership and work ethic.
- Sophomore goaltender Alex Schilling won the Chuck Delich Award as the team MVP. It also is voted on by players.
- Pluemer won the Jim Bowman Award as the top scholar athlete.
- Brady Tomlak was named the team’s defensive player of the year, as selected by the coaching staff.
- Freshman Luke Rowe was the pick as the most improved player, as voted by his teammates.
- Brandon Koch and Luke Manning shared the John Matchefts Freshman of the Year award, another team-selected honor.
©First Line Editorial 2020
