Neither Air Force coach Frank Serratore (7-0) or American International coach Eric Lang (2-0) had lost an Atlantic Hockey championship game.
Something had to give.
It was Lang’s Yellow Jackets that came out on top 7-0, thanks to goals by five different players and an 18-save shutout by goaltender Alec Calvaruso.
“I’ve been here a lot of times, but I’ve never had to give that speech (after a loss) before,” said Serratore. “Never had to do that.”
It’s the third consecutive playoff title for the Yellow Jackets, tying a record set by Air Force from 2007 to 2009.
“You’ve got to embrace moments like this,” said Lang. “It’s a long journey. We’re picked preseason number one. Got off to a 3-10 or 3-9 start, and we’re 20-3 since coming back from (winter) break. Just really proud of the guys.”
As Serratore is fond of saying, winning in the postseason requires good goaltending and special teams. AIC had both.
“We’ve got to give all the credit in the world to AIC,” said Serratore. “They were better than us in all facets of the game.
“I’m captain obvious with the score 7-0, but they were better in every way, shape or form.”
The Yellow Jackets were 4 for 8 on the power play. Air Force was 0 for 2.
AIC’s seven goals were bookended by Julius Janhonen, who opened the scoring 5:16 into the contest. After Blake Bennett caused a turnover, Janhonen’s shot from the right face-off dot found the back of the net through traffic in front of goaltender Alex Shilling.
“‘Juli’ and (Brian) Rigali were both forechecking hard, and I saw the lane their defenseman was going to pass,” said Bennett. “I took the risk and thought he was going to do that, and picked it off at the blue line.”
That was the only goal of the first period, but AIC extended its lead to 4-0 with three goals before the midway point of the second. Jake Stella made it 2-0 at 1:37, banking a shot from a tight angle off of Shilling’s pad.
Chris Dodero and Zak Galambos then scored 2:24 apart to put the game out of reach. Dodero’s shot glanced off of Shilling’s stick and into the net, and Galambos went short-side for his fifth of the season at 9:56.
The Yellow Jackets put the game way with three special teams’ goals in the third, a shorthanded tally by Dodero and two on the power play from Bennett and Janhonen.
Air Force could only muster five shots on Calvaruso in the third, and he stopped them all for his second career shutout.
“He played great,” said Bennett. “He’s got to be feeling really confident, and we’re confident in him.”
Bennett’s goal was his fourth of the weekend. He was named the most outstanding player of the tournament.
“We were the most outstanding team,” he said. “No one person deserves this honor. It’s a team honor.”
“It doesn’t get old,” said Dodero, a fifth-year senior who’s been a part of four regular season and three playoff championships. “It’s a great feeling. We’re going to enjoy this one. But there’s more to do.”
“It’s as fun a year as I’ve had coaching,” said Lang. “There’s 10 or 11 guys, all they have done since they walked on campus is win hockey games. Win regular-season championships and playoff championships.”
The Yellow Jackets will go from favorites to underdogs as they play in their third consecutive NCAA tournament.
“It’s going to be a relief to not have the burden of being the hunted,” said Lang. “Now we get to do the hunting.”
All-Tournament Team
F Blake Bennett, AIC
F Will Gavin, Air Force
F Chris Dodero, AIC
D Brandon Koch, Air Force
D Zak Galambos, AIC
G Alec Calvaruso, AIC
Most Outstanding Player: Blake Bennett, AIC
