No one in the Atlantic Hockey Association knows championships like Air Force hockey coach Frank Serratore.

With seven conference titles, Serratore has earned Atlantic Hockey’s top prize more than any other coach in league history.

So when he says this year’s Falcons have a championship-caliber back line, it’s a safe bet to assume they do.

Senior captain Luke Rowe and sophomore Chris Hedden are the top defensive partners for Air Force.

The duo leads the league in assists with Hedden in first with 22 and Rowe in second with 21. Hedden leads the league in points with 29 while Rowe is in third with 26.

“All championship-caliber teams have got players on the back line that can generate offense. Because if you’re just generating offense from your forwards it’s not going to be enough. Eventually, the three forwards when they’re competing and they’re down low in the offensive zone, teams will collapse on those three forwards,” Serratore said. “If you don’t have defensemen that can hurt the opposition, they have no fear in just collapsing down and smothering your forwards, but when you have guys at the point that can hurt you, teams are less apt to collapse on you … If you want to be great, you better have that offensive dimension, you better have that on your back line and this team has that.”

The Falcons have been on a scoring bonanza in recent weeks, outscoring opponents 32-17 in their last six outings and it’s in no small part to the production they are getting from Rowe and Hedden, whom Serratore called elite at the college hockey level but also other members of the Falcons’ defensive corps. 

Following a sweep of rival Army, Air Force sits in third place in the AHA standings with a 13-12-1 record and a 10-5-1 mark in conference play. A first-round bye — awarded to the top four teams in the conference — is the goal for Air Force this year and Serratore said that sweeping opponents at home and splitting with them on the road is a good formula to accomplish that goal. 

The Falcons have a chance to earn a home sweep when Canisius comes to Cadet Ice Arena Friday and Saturday with puck drop times of 7:05 p.m. and 5:05 p.m. respectively. 

The last time the Falcons and Golden Griffins met was over the Thanksgiving break when Air Force lost 3-1 the first night and then tied 2-2 the second night, earning the 1-0 shootout victory following the extra period. Canisius is the only league opponent Air Force has not beaten in regulation or the extra 3-on-3 overtime period this season — excluding league foes the Falcons have yet to face. 

Hedden believes that his team’s recent offensive success will be key in toppling Canisius at home. 

“They have a good forecheck and they’re good at putting the puck in the net, they got a big goaltender we struggled against him last time,” Hedden said. “Going into this weekend coming off, I think we had 15 goals last weekend and I think we have (22) in the last four games. I think since we’ve been able to put the puck in the net that’s really going to help us out, especially against their big goalie.” 

Air Force players celebrate forward Luke Rowe’s goal Jan. 12 at Cadet Ice Arena on Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

Parker Seibold, The Gazette