Mr. Overtime?
Here’s one vote for a new nickname for Air Force assistant captain Willie Reim.
The junior wing’s one-time goal off a pass from freshman Mitchell Digby 2:36 into the extra five-minute period gave the Falcons a season-opening victory over Michigan State at East Lansing, Mich. The goal was Reim’s third overtime winner in the Falcons’ past five regular-season games.
“We were pretty good tonight,” Air Force coach Frank Serratore said. “We played tough and I don’t think Michigan State was ready for that.
“Both goalies played well, but Willie Reim was by far the best player on the ice. He looked like Cam Neely out there. He was all over the place. We played a very experienced team, but our young guys battled. This is going to be a fun group to grow with.”
Reim also had an assist on Nate Horn‘s go-ahead goal at 4:54 of the second period. Reim put the puck on the Spartans’ Drew DeRidder (36 saves). Horn then scored on the rebound.
Horn had set up Air Force’s first goal on a centering pass to defenseman Luke Rowe. The captain’s strike made it 1-1 7:36 in and just 1:17 after Michigan State took an early lead.
Senior Alex Schilling made 29 saves for Air Force, which outshot the hosts 39-31. The Falcons also won the special teams battle, going 1 for 2 on the power play and killing off MSU’s only power play.
©First Line Editorial 2021
