Serratore Brothers Unite Against WCHA Bullies

(left) Air Force coach Frank Serratore will attempt to sweep DU & CC this weekend

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

Air Force coach Frank Serratore and his brother, Bemidji State coach Tom Serratore, watched film together Wednesday night in Colorado Springs, agonizing about how to beat Colorado College and the University of Denver.

The Serratores are accustomed to preparing their teams to produce upsets, but for the first time this weekend, they will get the opportunity on consecutive nights.

Frank's Falcons (11-7-4) host DU tonight and visit CC on Saturday. Tom's Beavers (11-9-2) play at CC tonight and travel to DU on Saturday.

The Tigers (16-6) are tied with Michigan for No. 1 in the PairWise Rankings. The Pioneers (17-5) are No. 3.

"We wanted to have a tougher weekend, but the No. 2 team in the country wasn't available so we took No. 1 and No. 3," Frank said. "Seriously, it's a great opportunity to play these guys when they're so good, because for our guys, they have nothing to lose.

"If Denver or CC is in a rebuilding year, we feel like we got to get it done right then. But they're BCS-type teams and they reload pretty well. So seriously, when you have the No. 1 and 3 teams in the country, what do you have to lose?

"If you upset them, you make history for your program. If you don't, then you do what you're supposed to do — you lose to the No. 1 and 3 teams in the country."

Frank said he didn't get to CC's game film Wednesday. But he'll prepare for the Tigers after talking to Tom on Saturday morning. And at the same time, Frank will advise Tom about how to beat DU.

"We've come to the conclusion that there is a reason these guys are ranked No. 1 and No. 3 in the country," Frank said. "They're pretty darn good in every area."

DU coach George Gwozdecky isn't taking either game lightly, noting the Pioneers barely beat the Falcons and Beavers in their previous meetings.

During DU's run to the 2005 NCAA title, Bemidji State gave the Pioneers their toughest test. DU beat the Beavers 5-4 in overtime in the Northeast Regional semifinal.

DU beat Air Force 2-1 last season. The Falcons lost to CC by the same score, but was the only Front Range team to make the NCAA Tournament.

"I think they're a lot better this year than they were last year," Gwozdecky said. "They have a lot more depth on their roster and they have a lot of support for (senior center) Eric Ehn."