Bennett Norlin might not fill up an Air Force hockey scoresheet, but his contributions are far from overlooked.

Only the third forward to ever win the team’s award for top defensive player, the junior uses his size (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) and skating ability to keep opponents in check whether at even strength or on the penalty kill. He’s versatile and can slot in at either center or wing, depending on what the situation calls for.

And his history suggests he could break out at any time on offense. After all, Norlin scored 33 goals in 55 games for Minnesota powerhouse Shattuck St. Mary’s prep during its 18U team’s 2015-16 national championship season, and he scored 22 goals in 58 games during his final season of junior hockey for West Kelowna of the British Columbia Hockey League.

Norlin is also extremely personable, as The Flight Path learned first-hand in our latest installment of one-timers.

Do you have any family connections to the Academy?

For me it was strictly hockey. No one in my family was in the military before. I have a cousin in the Navy, but other than us two that’s pretty much it.

Does your family have a background in hockey?

My brother (Isaiah) is in junior hockey right now. My dad (Joe) played. He introduced my brother and me to the game.

Do you have some favorite memories of hockey from growing up?

I remember sitting in my basement with my dad way back when – I have two brothers and two sisters, all younger – it was just the two of us playing knee hockey. That’s my first memory of playing hockey.

Did you have favorite players or teams growing up?

Probably just the local teams, the Wild, the Gophers, anyone who was on TV that we could watch or go to games. … (Growing up in Minnesota) definitely helped introduce me to the game. You see other kids playing and you want to emulate them.

At what point did playing for Air Force become a real possibility for you?

I played in a tournament in the Springs in my junior year of high school. That’s when (coach) Frank (Serratore) and Bergie (associate head coach Andy Berg) got in touch. I went to a summer showcase the next summer. We always sort of stayed in touch, and I committed to the Academy in January of my senior year. The whole timeline was a year from when I was introduced to it until I committed here.

What were the main appeals of going to Air Force?

The opportunity after. The big team aspect. Unfortunately for everyone who plays hockey it’s going to come to an end one day, and you want to be ready for that. The whole military part. Hockey is the greatest team sport out there, and the military is one big team, one big family, and that attracted me as well.

Have their been any trips with the team that you’ve really enjoyed during your two-plus seasons with the Falcons?

My freshmen year we went to Notre Dame and got to go to a Notre Dame-USC football game, so that was really cool. Niagara is cool because you get to see Niagara Falls. We also came here my freshman year, and it was over spring break, so we went to Toronto and got to see the Hockey Hall of Fame. That was really cool.

What has been your favorite part about Academy life?

Probably just the people. I know it’s a cliche answer. The people you get to be with every day, they motivate you to better yourself. Coming down to the rink with the boys, it’s awesome. They make you laugh, I try to make them laugh. They push me on the ice. Just to be surrounded by people of the Academy caliber every day is pretty special.

We are big breakfast fans here at The Flight Path, so I have to ask: what is your breakfast of champions?

I’m pretty simple. I’d go eggs over easy, wheat toast, hash browns, bacon. Pretty classic. On I’ll call ’em “cheat days” – I’m a big French toast and syrup guy.

If the team had a drill sergeant who would it be?

Luke Robinson, no question.

I’d better watch my step when I talk to him. … Who are the team’s comedians?

I think Nate Horn is pretty funny. He has some good one liners. I’ll go Will Gavin, too. He’s my stall mate, and he has some pretty good cracks.

Who is the team D.J.?

It would probably be Luke Rowe. He’s on it quite a bit.

If a Presidential candidate were to emerge from the team, who do you think it would be?

I would have to say Sammy Brennan. He’s a pretty smart guy. He’s pretty relatable for sure. I think he could get some votes.

What do the Falcons need to do to flip the script on the road (Air Force is 1-3) and play more like you have at home, where you’ve been animals?

It boils down to sticking to our habits. We know the way we can play. Playing at home, we watch that film every day. We know what we can do, we just have to translate that to Friday and Saturday. … Playing the way we know we can play, blocking shots, keeping our feet moving. We do that and I think we’ll have success.

Do you have any ideas about possible directions for your military career?

I’m still looking into pilot training. I think I want to be more on that operational side, whether that’s flying planes or flying drones. With hockey you want to be with the guys and that translates to that kind of career field.

©First Line Editorial 2021