Air Force goalie Christopoulos leaves top-ranked St. Cloud State bewildered
By
Kate ShefteMarch 23, 2018 | updated 9 years ago
Air Force goalkeeper Billy Christopoulos (44) holds on to the puck after a save against the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Cadet Ice Arena at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Friday October 13, 2017 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE)
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The time-honored hockey recipe for a late postseason run: Take goaltender. Apply heat.
Billy Christopoulos’ ascension was the main story before Air Force’s season began. A backup his first two years at Air Force, Christopoulos got his turn when athletic, flashy goaltender Shane Starrett turned pro last spring.
He was the main story again Friday night, turning in a 40-save performance against top-ranked St. Cloud State.
“That may be one of the better goalie performances I’ve seen in a long time,” St. Cloud head coach Bob Motzko said. “We did everything imaginable to get back in that game.
“This kid, he’s dialed in right now. And if he stays dialed in tomorrow, Air Force is moving on, I’m telling you. Someone’s got to score on this kid.”
St. Cloud State was upset in the regional semifinals for the second time in two tries. Some of the damage was self-inflicted, as it missed several wide-open nets. But in their final postgame, the Huskies made sure to credit Christopoulos.
“We battled tooth and nail and couldn’t solve the goalie,” St. Cloud State junior forward Robby Jackson said.
Air Force will play Minnesota-Duluth in the regional final at 7 p.m. Saturday. Duluth rallied to force overtime against Minnesota State-Mankato, then beat the Mavericks 3-2 in overtime.
Air Force goalkeeper Billy Christopoulos (44) holds on to the puck after a save against the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Cadet Ice Arena at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Friday October 13, 2017 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE)St. Cloud State goalie David Hrenak (34) gets up from the ice as Air Force celebrates a goal during the third period of an NCAA regional men’s college hockey tournament game, Friday, March 23, 2018, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP Photo/Dave Eggen) (Dave Eggen)St. Cloud State’s Mikey Eyssimont (19) battles for the puck with Air Force’s Dan Bailey (20) during the second period of an NCAA regional men’s college hockey tournament game, Friday, March 23, 2018, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP Photo/Dave Eggen) (Dave Eggen)St. Cloud State’s Luke Jaycox (6) pushes the puck past Air Force’s Walker Sommer (42) during the first period of an NCAA regional men’s college hockey tournament game, Friday, March 23, 2018, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP Photo/Dave Eggen) (Dave Eggen)St. Cloud State’s Ryan Poehling (11) controls the puck as he crosses the blue line as Air Force’s Tyler Ledford (13) defends during the third period of an NCAA regional men’s college hockey tournament game, Friday, March 23, 2018, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP Photo/Dave Eggen) (Dave Eggen)Air Force celebrates an empty-net goal in the closing minute of an NCAA regional men’s college hockey tournament game against St. Cloud State University during the third period Friday, March 23, 2018, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP Photo/Dave Eggen) (Dave Eggen)Air Force’s Evan Giesler (15) battles to get the puck past St. Cloud State goalie David Hrenak (34) as teammate Jimmy Schuldt (22) defends during the first period of an NCAA regional men’s college hockey tournament game, Friday, March 23, 2018, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP Photo/Dave Eggen) (Dave Eggen)St. Cloud State’s Jon Lizotte (10) applies pressure as Air Force’s Brady Tomlak (28) controls the puck during the third period of an NCAA regional men’s college hockey tournament game, Friday, March 23, 2018, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP Photo/Dave Eggen) (Dave Eggen)St. Cloud State’s Jack Poehling (3) looks to pass the puck while being pressured by Air Force’s Matt Koch (7) during the second period of an NCAA regional men’s college hockey tournament game, Friday, March 23, 2018, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP Photo/Dave Eggen) (Dave Eggen)St. Cloud State goalie David Hrenak (34) gets up from the ice as Air Force celebrates a goal during the third period of an NCAA regional men’s college hockey tournament game, Friday, March 23, 2018, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP Photo/Dave Eggen) (Dave Eggen)St. Cloud State’s Ryan Poehling (11) controls the puck as he crosses the blue line as Air Force’s Tyler Ledford (13) defends during the third period of an NCAA regional men’s college hockey tournament game, Friday, March 23, 2018, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP Photo/Dave Eggen) (Dave Eggen)St. Cloud State goalie David Hrenak (34) gets up from the ice as Air Force celebrates a goal during the third period of an NCAA regional men’s college hockey tournament game, Friday, March 23, 2018, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP Photo/Dave Eggen) (Dave Eggen)St. Cloud State’s Mikey Eyssimont (19) battles for the puck with Air Force’s Dan Bailey (20) during the second period of an NCAA regional men’s college hockey tournament game, Friday, March 23, 2018, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP Photo/Dave Eggen) (Dave Eggen)St. Cloud State’s Luke Jaycox (6) pushes the puck past Air Force’s Walker Sommer (42) during the first period of an NCAA regional men’s college hockey tournament game, Friday, March 23, 2018, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP Photo/Dave Eggen) (Dave Eggen)Air Force celebrates an empty-net goal in the closing minute of an NCAA regional men’s college hockey tournament game against St. Cloud State University during the third period Friday, March 23, 2018, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP Photo/Dave Eggen) (Dave Eggen)Air Force’s Evan Giesler (15) battles to get the puck past St. Cloud State goalie David Hrenak (34) as teammate Jimmy Schuldt (22) defends during the first period of an NCAA regional men’s college hockey tournament game, Friday, March 23, 2018, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP Photo/Dave Eggen) (Dave Eggen)St. Cloud State’s Jon Lizotte (10) applies pressure as Air Force’s Brady Tomlak (28) controls the puck during the third period of an NCAA regional men’s college hockey tournament game, Friday, March 23, 2018, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP Photo/Dave Eggen) (Dave Eggen)St. Cloud State’s Jack Poehling (3) looks to pass the puck while being pressured by Air Force’s Matt Koch (7) during the second period of an NCAA regional men’s college hockey tournament game, Friday, March 23, 2018, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP Photo/Dave Eggen) (Dave Eggen)St. Cloud State goalie David Hrenak (34) gets up from the ice as Air Force celebrates a goal during the third period of an NCAA regional men’s college hockey tournament game, Friday, March 23, 2018, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP Photo/Dave Eggen) (Dave Eggen)Air Force goalkeeper Billy Christopoulos (44) holds on to the puck after a save against the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Cadet Ice Arena at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Friday October 13, 2017 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette). (DOUGAL BROWNLIE)
