Air Force’s 3-2 Atlantic Hockey victory against Bentley on Friday had something for everyone.

Two penalty shots, by the same player.

A highlight-reel goal, and a potentially devastating turnover, by the same player.

Highlight-reel saves, and a gimme goal against, by the same player.

And an overtime winner (AFA’s fifth in six extra sessions) by one of Air Force’s emerging stars.

How to summarize a game in which AFA tied the score, took the lead, gave up the lead then won on a 4-on-3 power play?

“We’re really good with our backs against the wall,” Air Force coach Frank Serratore said. “When there’s a sense of urgency, we’re good. We need to play with a sense of urgency before there is a sense of urgency.”

Hedden Lifts AFA to Victory

Defenseman Chris Hedden has emerged during his sophomore season as not only one of Air Force’s best players but one of Atlantic Hockey’s. He added to his team-high 18 points with Friday’s winner off a nice cross-ice pass from Will Gavin on the 4-on-3 power play 45 seconds into overtime.

That gave Air Force (8-8-1, 5-3-1 AHA) its fifth win in six OT games this season.

“We practice overtime (strategy) a good amount,” Hedden said. “It’s not where we want to be though. We want to give it a better go in regulation.”

Or as his D partner and AFA co-captain Luke Rowe said, “Two (points) is better than one, better than none, but you want three. That’s the goal.”

Blessing in Disguise

The arrow is pointing up for goaltender Guy Blessing, who made 22 saves, including a couple to preserve ties and AFA’s short-lived lead in the third period.

Yet the junior also handed the guests a goal 5:29 in when he made a glove save on Nick Bochen only to have the puck fall right into the blue paint where Arlo Merritt scored as gimme of a goal as exists.

No matter, Blessing locked down and was very good the rest of the way.

“He’s a rock back there,” Rowe said. “He helps us when we make a mistake. He’s calm and steady. When he gives up a goal he doesn’t like or he wants back, he just dials right back into it. There are no worries with Bless for mental fortitude.”

That much was obvious after a first period in which Bentley (7-9-0, 4-6-0 AHA) held distinct territorial — and shots on goal — advantages (13-4 on the latter).

“We weren’t connected in the first period. We were very individualistic,” Serratore said. “They were very connected. We were lucky to get through the first period.”

Baumgartner Announces His Presence

Freshman defenseman Owen Baumgartner ensured Air Force entered the first intermission tied after scoring a highlight-reel rush and goal with 8:02 to go.

The defenseman wove through at least three Bentley defenders, then roofed a shot from in tight over Hasley.

Owen Baumgartner's first goal as a Falcon🚨 pic.twitter.com/mYXlGVRCVZ

— Air Force Hockey (@AF_HKY) December 2, 2023

“They were in pretty bad gaps and I had about 50 feet to gain speed,” Baumgartner said. “I got my feet going as quickly as I could. Their guys were flat-footed, so I pulled it backhand and took it to the net. Their goalie (Conner Hasley) stayed on the far side so I just chipped it in.”

Air Force seized its first lead when a second freshman named Owen, center Dubois, scored on a rebound of a point shot by yet another freshman, Nolan Cunningham 2:05 into the third.

That came on Air Force’s ninth shot of the game. It had just 16, 15 fewer than it averages. But Bentley allows the seventh-fewest shots against in Division I at 24.

“They layer well,” Rowe said. “And they’re everywhere in the neutral zone, they just run around and swarm. It’s tough to get pucks up, get pucks through them with speed to keep it going.”

Baumgartner figured in another scoring play, but not the type he or anyone else wearing white and blue wanted. Taking a drop pass deep in the Falcons’ zone, he tried to skate it out, but Bentley’s Ryan Upson stole the puck, deked Blessing and scored to knot it up with 9:38 to go.

It could have been devastating, but it wasn’t because of AFA’s resilience.

“No quit at all with this team,” Baumgartner said. “It doesn’t matter what the score is, we’re forechecking, backchecking, guys are hitting. It speaks to the character of this team.”

Schwartz Creates Havoc All Game

Meanwhile, junior wing Austin Schwartz tormented Bentley all game. The speedy Coloradan generated chance after chance in a game in which Bentley didn’t surrender many of them. The result? Not one, but two penalty shots.

“I haven’t seen that before,” Rowe said. “And he drew another penalty because of his speed going to the net.”

Neither opportunity yielded a goal. Hasley made the first stop (in the first period) with his stick and then one late in the third period (while AFA was killing a penalty) with his right pad.

Still, Schwartz’s effort was emblematic of what Air Force needed to turn a game that could have gotten away from it.

“Not only do we kill that penalty, we draw a penalty and we get another penalty shot,” Serratore said. “Does it have to get to that? I’m happy we found a way.”

Notes

Hedden was selected AHA’s Defensive Player of the Month after amassing 10 points in eight games. Seven of his nine assists were primary ones and he blocked 13 shots. His D partner, Rowe, won the award for October. … A handful of regulars were out of the lineup due to injuries, including centers Andrew DeCarlo, defenseman Mitchell Digby and No. 2 goalie Maiszon Balboa.

©First Line Editorial 2023