Weekend preview: DU vs. Air Force

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at Cadet Ice Arena; 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at Magness Arena

Radio: 104.3/FM

The series: DU has dominated it, holding a 34-3-1 margin. The Pioneers won, 7-0, in the only meeting last season and has an eight-game unbeaten streak in the series. Air Force last won on Jan. 18, 2008, 5-2.

Scouting the Falcons: Like DU, Air Force graduated seven seniors. The Falcons’ departures accounted for nearly 50 percent of the team’s scoring. However, the cupboard is not bare. Despite losing its top three scorers, Air Force returns its next six, starting with junior forward A.J. Reid (30 points) and sophomore forwards Erik Baskin (19) – a 6-foot-3, 200-pounder – and Tyler Ledford (18), who is from Colorado Springs. … Senior Chris Dylewski is the only returning goaltender, but the Falcons bring back five defensemen who saw significant action last season. … Twenty of Air Force’s 27 players are either freshmen or sophomores, including 12 newcomers.

DU update: Pioneers captain Grant Arnold will miss the series while serving a two-game, NCAA-imposed suspension for unknowingly violating a delayed enrollment rule. Mike Chambers of The Denver Post explains here. … The Pioneers are coming off a 4-0 exhibition victory over the University of Calgary in which either sophomore forward Danton Heinen or junior forward Trevor Moore (or both) figured in every goal. Freshman forward Troy Terry was part of the last three tallies, scoring two, during the second period. … Heinen and Moore were selected to the NCHC’s Preseason All-Conference Team, and Heinen was chosen as a preseason All-American by College Hockey News. … Junior goaltender Evan Cowley was among 20 goalies selected to the 2016 Mike Richter Award Watch List.

2 Comments on "Weekend preview: DU vs. Air Force"

  1. Was wondering why Grant wasn’t in the lineup.
    Question: Will Pios need an alternate alternate captain? Who speaks to ref if Levin is not on the ice?

    • Grant has to serve a Mickey Mouse two-game suspension from the NCAA for enrolling “late” as a freshman. I link out to Mike Chambers’ story in the Post about it in the Weekend Preview. … My understanding is Will Butcher is the other assistant captain.

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