Max Hartner nets first hat trick as Air Force hockey team rolls AIC
Max Hartner experienced a first Friday.
The Air Force junior completed his first hat trick with 1.9 seconds remaining to help propel the Falcons to a 9-3 win over American International College at Cadet Ice Arena. Air Force (12-17-3, 11-10-2 Atlantic Hockey Conference) snapped a four-game skid and improved to 3-0 against the Yellow Jackets (3-21-7, 3-15-7).
“I really didn’t do that much,” said Hartner, who entered the game with four goals. “My line worked hard, and I got a bounce it feels pretty good. I’ve never had one of these in my career, and I’ll take it.”
Air Force’s freshmen added four goals and five assists, led by Erik Baskin’s two goals with an assist and a goal and an assist by Ben Kucera. Jonathan Kopacka chipped in two assists, and Jordan Himley also had a goal.
The win was a desperately needed respite for Air Force, which blew a 4-2 lead in a 5-4 overtime loss and allowed two short-handed goals in a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Sacred Heart on the road last weekend. The top five teams in the final conference standings will get byes into the quarterfinals of the AHC Tournament, and the Falcons head into the season’s final five games just one point out of fifth place in seventh.
“We needed to have a good game, and we needed to have one where we played winning hockey,” Air Force coach Frank Serratore said. “We can’t dwell on the past, and we just have to keep plugging away and try to win every game we can.”
The Falcons were without injured defensemen Johnny Hrabovsky, Phil Boje and Kyle Mackey.
“That was a great game for us as a team,” Hartner said. “We rallied around each other in the locker room before (the game), and we know what we’ve got to do down the stretch. From top to bottom we were playing great, and it was a great team effort.”
The Falcons raced to a 2-0 lead in the game’s first 4:40, with Himley and Baskin scoring past Yellow Jackets goalie Hunter Leisner. Hartner struck at the 12:18 mark, and Kucera put Air Force up 4-0 with a goal 6:15 into the second. Baskin’s second goal off a nice assist from fellow freshman Tyler Ledford made it 5-1.
Austin Orszulak’s wrister from the left wing cut Air Force’s lead to 5-2 with 4:44 left in the second, and he scored again 24 seconds into the final frame to cut the Falcons’ lead to two.
That was as close as the Yellow Jackets would get, as George Michalke III struck 44 seconds later to make it 6-3, Ryan Doucet added a rebound goal 6:07 into the third and Hartner completed his hat trick just inside the final whistle.
Air Force right wing Jordan Himley, left, and left defender Dylan Abood, right, celebrate after Himley scored the first goal of the game as Air Force takes on American International College Friday, February 14, 2015 at Cadet Ice Arena. Air Force scored three goals in the first period. Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette
Air Force center Ben Kucera puts the puck between the legs of American International College goalie Hunter Leisner to score Air Force’s fourth goal of the game Friday, February 13, 2015 at Cadet Ice Arena. Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette
Air Force center Tyler Ledford is tripped by American International College defenseman Dominic Racobaldo as Air Force takes on American International College Friday, February 13, 2015 at Cadet Ice Arena. Air Force scored a goal off of the resulting penalty. Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette
Air Force right wing Cole Gunner, right, fights for control of the puck with American International College defenseman Dominic Racobaldo, center, as Air Force takes on American International College on Friday, February 13, 2015 at Cadet Ice Arena. Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette
Air Force right wing Jordan Himley takes the puck around the back of the net during the first period as Air Force takes on American International College Thursday, February 12, 2015 at Cadet Ice Arena. Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette
Air Force right wing George Michalke III moves the puck down the ice past American International College defenseman Andrew DeBrincat as Air Force takes on American International College Thursday, February 12, 2015 at Cadet Ice Arena. Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette
