Austin Park participated in several Air Force hockey camps well before ever playing for the Falcons even seemed possible.
Fast forward nearly a decade, and the senior made the first two starts of his NCAA career in net this past weekend for Air Force at Holy Cross.
The personable goaltender took time over the holiday break for a question and answer with AFAFlightPath.com founder Chris Bayee.
When we were discussing your goalie mask, you related how you’ve always liked wings on goalie masks, and that you have a fondness for a certain hockey team from Detroit. Tell us more about that.
My entire family is from Detroit. I never lived there. I grew up in (suburban) Chicago, and we moved to Colorado when I was in middle school. So I’ve always been in enemy territory. I just remember watching the Red Wings growing up from as early as I can remember. That’s really where the hockey inspiration starts.
You also mentioned Carey Price inspired you to place your number on your mask; were there other influences for you?
Did it start with seeing Miracle?
Hockey was kind of a family thing. My uncle played growing up. So it was something my mom got me into at an early age. The goalie aspect of it I definitely think came from two things – watching Miracle with Jim Craig, that was super cool. Also when you’re a Pee Wee everyone just rotates the gear around, everyone takes their turn at goalie. When it was my turn, I loved it. I loved that the pads were different from everybody else. I loved everything about it. It was an addiction. Even in the tough games when my mom would say, “It’s OK, you don’t have to play anymore, you can be a forward.” I’d say, “Nope, I want to be a goalie.”
How did things come about with Air Force? Were you familiar with the program from having played some youth hockey in Colorado?
I’ve been to a number of camps here with Frank Serratore over the years. I was familiar with the place. I’d never been up top where all the Cadets and students are. That was interesting the first time I got to go up there. When I was about 13 or 14, I went to a (USA Hockey) Regional Camp. Essentially they take all the best players from the state of Colorado and you go to Regionals, and Frank Serratore was the goalie evaluator. He came up to me and said, “Someone just needs to take a chance on you.” That was a foreshadowing I suppose. I’m 20 years old and playing juniors in Wenatchee, and it’s nearing the end of my last season and the coaches call me up and say, “Hey, we’ve got a spot for you. We need a goalie, and you need a place to play hockey.” It kind of just fell into my lap. I’m super fortunate. And obviously this place, I couldn’t ask with anything better.
‘I loved that the pads were different from everybody else. I loved everything about it. It was an addiction. Even in the tough games when my mom would say, “It’s OK, you don’t have to play anymore, you can be a forward.” I’d say, “Nope, I want to be a goalie.” ‘
What were the appeals for you here?
Funny enough, I was actually thinking about the military even though it wasn’t prevalent in my family history. My grandfather fought in World War II, but there was no one recently. It was just something growing up and watching movies, something I drew inspiration from. Seeing those brave men and women go out and protect their country. The military was really a draw. I’ve always loved planes, and I recently got my pilot slot, so I’m going to pursue that after this. It was the best of both worlds because I wasn’t sure if I was going to end up with a Division I offer, and then I got the military, and I got hockey. It was perfect. It couldn’t have worked out better.
Austin Park
Also, another thing worth noting is the culture here is so different. At every other school you have players with NHL managers and agents calling them all the time, there’s always money involved. There’s always deals going on behind closed doors. Here everyone’s a family. We all got the same deal. We’re all going to school for the same amount of money. You really get to come down here and be with your family and play hockey. It’s the most pure form of the sport that I’ve experienced since I was a little kid. … A lot of it can be attributed to the recruiting. They do a good job of just bringing in good people all around. You need to have good character to do well in this system. And they don’t settle for anyone who’s going to cheat the system or cheat the company. This place, by nature of being a military academy, does a very good job of weeding those out who are not meant for this place. And not everybody is. Usually, one way another the people who aren’t of that mold for whatever reason get filtered out through one way or another.
Do you have favorite trips with the team?
All of them. The opportunity to take a break from school, take a break from military life and just go on the road and focus on hockey with the guys. The ones that are especially fun are ones like last year when we were out (East) for two weeks during the playoffs. We started with a sweep at Army and then went up the road to Utica to play for an (AHA) championship. That’s an experience I really hope I get to live again because it was amazing.
Are things about the Academy that might surprise people to discover?
It’s a challenge for sure. Coming in with the mindset of knowing it’s going to be a challenge and then knowing you’re going to be better off for it. This place has certainly pushed me further than I thought I could go. And it’s funny, I’m in my senior year now, but as I think back there was always a point throughout every semester where I thought I don’t think I’m going to get it done. I don’t think it’s possible, I don’t have enough time. And every time that it happens it’s gotten done. There’s a belief you build in yourself, a confidence, that no matter the challenge you can tackle it. That’s the biggest thing I’ve learned about myself at the Academy so far. That’s the biggest thing, I think, that would surprise people. Pressure makes diamonds, and you’re certainly under a lot of pressure.
Let’s lighten things up a big. Who are some of the team’s comedians?
The funniest human being I’ve met in my life is (fellow senior) Bennett Norlin. Unless you allow him to get comfortable around you, you won’t necessarily know it. His quick-wittedness and the way his delivery is is perfect. He’s just one of those people who’s always funny.
If you had teammates running for public office, who’s going to get your vote?
I think it would be Luke Rowe. He’s a natural born leader, and not only that, he’s a presence. He just glows with that presence of leadership and someone you trust and you want to follow. I’d do anything for the guy.
If Frank was a superhero, which one would he be?
That’s a challenging one. Is it Mr. Fantastic from the Fantastic Four? So while he’s very flexible, most notably, he’s also the smartest human on earth. He’s known for his intellectual talents. I think Frank’s mindset as well as the rest of the coaching staff’s and how they dissect the game, I’d have to go with Mr. Fantastic for all of them.
He also coaches you and the rest of the goalies. What’s his approach like?
Your freshman year you’re going to get a decent amount of coaching because there is a certain way he wants guys to do things. That’s getting out, getting on your angle and working back with momentum so you’re ready for any sort of play, and that’s not always an easy way to learn how to play. As you go along, Frank has said this at multiple times, you have to be an athlete and you’re either going to figure it out or you’re not. He’s very hands off for the most part. He’s not nit-picky. He lets you play your game as long as you have those foundational pieces.
©First Line Editorial 2023
