It happens every season with Air Force’s hockey program — unexpected players step into starring roles.

They have to. The Falcons can’t utilize the transfer portal to bring in players, and they don’t have the option of grad transfers or redshirt seasons. Improvement must come from within.

Case in point in 2023-24 was then sophomore defenseman Chris Hedden. He had a solid freshman campaign with 11 points in 34 games. But did anyone expect his nearly point-per-game outburst (37 in 38 games) while playing top-pairing minutes? Now he’s a preseason all-Atlantic Hockey selection.

It’s with that in mind that The Flight Path takes a look at some potential breakout players for Air Force’s 2024-25 season.

Which Air Force Senior Steps Up?

Air Force has just five seniors, and two — co-captain Clayton Cosentino and Guy Blessing — are well-established cogs. Blessing started every game in the net, and Cosentino is the top-line center who has not missed a game in three seasons.

Last season, Parker Brown emerged as a reliable top-line (and every situation) right wing during his senior season. Could defenseman Mitchell Digby or center Andrew DeCarlo be the senior who breaks out? What about Jasper Lester?

Digby was very good as a freshman when he scored 18 points in 36 games. He dropped off to seven points the next season and had just three in an injury-plagued junior year (27 games). The Falcons graduated three of their top defensemen, so it figures Digby will have the opportunity to play a lot of minutes and see power-play time.

DeCarlo has been consistent in his first three seasons, registering between 13 and 15 points in each. However, his skill set screams offense, and he’s fully healthy after undergoing offseason hip surgery.

“I thought the best he’d played for us was the last couple of months, and that was with the injury,” coach Frank Serratore said. “He was more focused, more dialed in, and played with more determination.

“It’s time for him to be more than a good player.”

Lester is an interesting study. He skates well and is versatile enough to play defense or forward, yet his games played have gone from 28 to 22 to 2. He’s one of only eight upperclassmen, so he figures to play more this season.

Sophomores Always Progress

Freshman year at a military academy is a massive grind. You have to adapt to demanding academics as well as college hockey (“the men’s league” as Serratore calls it). Then there is the military component.

It figures that players will take big leaps in their second season in the Falcons program, and all three juniors — Hedden, center Mason McCormick and wing Holt Oliphant (the latter two named assistant captains) — did just that last year.

The good news is there are 10 candidates in that same boat this season. Up front, wing Brendan Gibbons showed flashes of scoring ability. His 13 points and seven goals led the freshman cohort, and he’ll almost assuredly move into a top-six and power-play role.

The defense has to replace three stalwarts, and two freshmen played quite a bit last season — Will Staring (9 points) and Nolan Cunningham (5). One of them could find himself in a top-pair role with Hedden, and the other has a good shot to be in the second pair.

“Every sophomore on our team has stepped it up big time from their freshman year,” Cosentino said. “Look at our roster last year; we had a lot of older guys in key spots. When they left, we told them, ‘Hey, this is your spot for the taking. You’ve got to work hard in the offseason to get ready to play when it comes.’ I think every single one of them took it to heart to prepare. I think they’re ready for the challenge.”

Could Beast Mode Make An Appearance?

McCormick established himself as a force to be reckoned with. He’s a 6-foot-4 center who skates well, is strong in the circle, and is a willing combatant in the trenches. He had 13 points (6 goals) without a lot of power-play time. He’ll have plenty this year. A 20-point season isn’t out of the question at all, and the tools are there to go beyond.

Four players scored 10 or more goals for the Falcons, and three of them return, including Oliphant, who went from 4 goals to 10 and 9 points to 14 as a sophomore. Could he take another step into the 15-goal realm? He’ll certainly be a top-six forward and should have more opportunities.

“We need our juniors and seniors to lead us,” Serratore said.

©First Line Editorial 2024