Billy Duma is taking the phrase double shifting to an entirely different level this season at the Air Force Academy.

The junior, who was part of the fall 2018 recruiting class, found himself in the lineup for last Saturday’s game vs. American International in Massachusetts.

That wouldn’t be unusual except for the fact the Plymouth, Minn., native was cut two years ago and has served as the Falcons’ video manager since. In what had to seem like a replay from the Twilight Zone, it’s fair to ask if there was any stage fright?

“I’ve done it so many times in junior and growing up that it was the same kind of routine,” he said, understating. “I prepared just like any other game.”

How did he get there?

Duma has played plenty of games in his first 23 years, starting as a youth in Minnesota then in the North American Hockey League. He captained Wayzata High School’s state champions in 2016, a squad backstopped by current Falcons goaltender Alex Schilling, before playing two seasons in the NAHL. Air Force located him at Coulee Region, where he as a teammate of another current Falcon, defenseman Brandon Koch, for a season.

Duma’s journey at the Academy has taken plenty of unexpected twists and turns, but throughout he’s stayed positive.

“It was always a thought in the back of my head that I wasn’t big enough or good enough,” Duma said. “I lost a lot of weight in basic training (down to 160 pounds). I didn’t put my best foot forward (in preseason practices). The coaches made the decision to cut me.

“It probably was one of the best things to happen to me. I had to look in the mirror. … I knew I would miss the guys.”

The emotions extended both ways in his meeting with head coach Frank Serratore and associate coach Joe Doyle, Duma recalled.

“You could tell it was difficult for them to let us go (he was one of a handful of cuts). I didn’t take it personally. It was tough for them, it was tough for me. I said, ‘Thanks for the opportunity, thanks for getting me in here.’ It was an eye opener for me. I realized I had to show up for work every day.

“I was cut on a Friday, and the following Monday I went back and told them I would do anything I can to help. I remember the conversation like it was yesterday.”

Cutting clips

From there it was a matter of trading shin pads for iPads. His video manager career began despite not having much technical experience. Much of his video role involved cutting clips of various segments of Air Force practices, as well as situations in NHL games the Falcons can study. It’s also involved creating scouting clips of junior prospects.

“It was an easy transition,” Duma said. “Knowing hockey and playing it, if a coach said we want a clip from the Bruins’ 1-2-2 forecheck, I knew what they were talking about.

“At practice I move the camera around to record drills. I was brought in by Liam Smith, who is a lieutenant now. He had a good set-up for us.

“I want to have a good attitude, support the guys. I just love to be around, and I want to be a role model, help the younger players get through the struggles of the Academy.”

Duma and Schilling are the only two players left from the 2018 recruiting class for one reason or another. Injuries, unfortunately, have played a role in the attrition. That’s a topic his peers – now teammates again – haven’t missed an opportunity to rib Duma about.

“Air Force seems cursed with injuries,” Duma said. “My freshman and sophomore years there were a lot of jokes. ‘Duma, one more guy goes down and it’s going to happen.’

“I’ve had a great time back in the locker room environment. I don’t think it was that big of a surprise the way the last few years have gone. It’s a good laugh.”

Duma has practiced with the Falcons for approximately a month. When he returned to the ice, which he said he barely had touched for the past two years, a bigger version appeared.

“Now I’m between 190 and 195, depending on what I had for breakfast,” Duma quipped. “It’s not a bad weight because there are high expectations to be in top physical condition. I started working out all the time. Earlier this season I started working out with the team, which was enjoyable.

“I don’t think Frank had seen me shirtless since he brought me back. I’ve definitely lost some pounds since I started practicing again.”

And those first practices were a reminder of how hard the jump to college hockey from junior hockey is, or in Duma’s case, from little hockey to college hockey.

“The first practice I had to tell a few guys to step in for me,” he said. “I was ready to pass out.”

What’s next?

Where does this go from here? Your guess is as good as that of Duma, who still helps with video tasks when he has time.

“When we traveled to Boston, I worked with coach (Ben) Kinney. If I’m going to be sitting and watching I will be doing video. It gets me engaged,” he said.

“I just hope the guys who can’t play can get back on the ice. I don’t know what the coaches have in mind for me. If they don’t need me, I did my job. If they want to keep me around, I would love to be around.”

Serratore emphasized that he didn’t have to reach too far into his bag of tricks to find a player for a roster that was minus five regulars for various reasons last weekend.

“Billy came here as a recruited player,” the coach said. “He’s a high-character guy and a good hockey player. He’s done a fabulous job as video manager. We just had to bring him out of the mothballs. He’s a lot bigger and stronger now, which was an issue for him as a freshman.

“The bad news is we had to bring in a student manager. The good news is the student manager is a good hockey player.”

Could that student manager play this weekend, when the Falcons open their home schedule against Atlantic Hockey rival Robert Morris?

“If I play, I’m going to be 100 percent dialed in. If I do video, I’m going to be 100 percent dialed in,” Duma said.

©First Line Editorial 2020