(left) The good times are a distant memory for the Air Force hockey team which has struggled since losing to DUFrom: Colorado Springs Gazette
by David Ramsey
Frank Serratore was calm, which is not his normal state, as he talked about his team's slump.
"If you're going to have a little lull, this is a good time to have it," he told me Monday afternoon.
Coach, the little lull is over. The Air Force hockey team that danced with the nation's elite now teeters on the edge of collapse.
Saturday was a quiet night at Cadet Ice Arena as Canisius completed a sweep of Air Force. The Golden Griffins, who don't suffer from the burden of great expectations, thumped the Falcons 4-2.
Six weeks ago, Serratore and his Falcons were skipping along with an undefeated record, a ferocious offense and a demolition of Colorado College.
Those happy days seemed far, far away as the Golden Griffins dominated the Falcons over the weekend.
For decades, the Falcons labored in national obscurity. They were the other team in Colorado Springs. They were a virtual secret.
This season, the Falcons looked ready for the national stage. They scored 66 goals while roaring to a 13-0 record.
They became the darlings of unattached Springs hockey fans, and even CC fans spoke in admiring tones.
Strange how the Falcons collapsed when the spotlight turned their way.
"I think the media got to our heads a little bit," said Blake Page, who scored a third-period goal that gave Air Force a brief boost of hope. "We were getting a lot of attention, and we're not used to that.
With his season in shambles, Serratore faces the challenge of re-igniting his team's hunger.
The Falcons have won only two of their past nine games. Their defense has turned porous, surrendering 19 goals in the past five games.
Serratore took care to admit his team has fallen on bad times, but just as careful to say his Falcons are not in a state of panic.
"I don't want to play Sigmund Freud," he said.
Frank, that's a good idea, because you don't look a thing like Sigmund Freud.
But Serratore wasn't talking about acting.
He offered a brief, hopeful psycho-analysis of his team. He said this slump, if handled correctly, will strengthen his players.
The best teams, he insisted, grow closer and stronger during losing streaks. They become more dangerous, not less.
Last season, the Falcons staggered through a brutal streak, winning only once in six games. This slump came right after an upset victory over the University of Denver.
That edition of the Falcons declined to wilt, escaped their funk and powered all the way to the NCAA Tournament.
It's clear success drained these Falcons. Maybe failure will refill the tank.
by David Ramsey
Frank Serratore was calm, which is not his normal state, as he talked about his team's slump.
"If you're going to have a little lull, this is a good time to have it," he told me Monday afternoon.
Coach, the little lull is over. The Air Force hockey team that danced with the nation's elite now teeters on the edge of collapse.
Saturday was a quiet night at Cadet Ice Arena as Canisius completed a sweep of Air Force. The Golden Griffins, who don't suffer from the burden of great expectations, thumped the Falcons 4-2.
Six weeks ago, Serratore and his Falcons were skipping along with an undefeated record, a ferocious offense and a demolition of Colorado College.
Those happy days seemed far, far away as the Golden Griffins dominated the Falcons over the weekend.
For decades, the Falcons labored in national obscurity. They were the other team in Colorado Springs. They were a virtual secret.
This season, the Falcons looked ready for the national stage. They scored 66 goals while roaring to a 13-0 record.
They became the darlings of unattached Springs hockey fans, and even CC fans spoke in admiring tones.
Strange how the Falcons collapsed when the spotlight turned their way.
"I think the media got to our heads a little bit," said Blake Page, who scored a third-period goal that gave Air Force a brief boost of hope. "We were getting a lot of attention, and we're not used to that.
With his season in shambles, Serratore faces the challenge of re-igniting his team's hunger.
The Falcons have won only two of their past nine games. Their defense has turned porous, surrendering 19 goals in the past five games.
Serratore took care to admit his team has fallen on bad times, but just as careful to say his Falcons are not in a state of panic.
"I don't want to play Sigmund Freud," he said.
Frank, that's a good idea, because you don't look a thing like Sigmund Freud.
But Serratore wasn't talking about acting.
He offered a brief, hopeful psycho-analysis of his team. He said this slump, if handled correctly, will strengthen his players.
The best teams, he insisted, grow closer and stronger during losing streaks. They become more dangerous, not less.
Last season, the Falcons staggered through a brutal streak, winning only once in six games. This slump came right after an upset victory over the University of Denver.
That edition of the Falcons declined to wilt, escaped their funk and powered all the way to the NCAA Tournament.
It's clear success drained these Falcons. Maybe failure will refill the tank.
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