Air Force Hockey Coach Sees Opportunity in NCAA Changes

Strategic Insights -

Colorado Springs' Air Force hockey team enters a challenging season under coach Frank Serratore, who hopes that the new rules allowing Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players to join NCAA teams will benefit his team indirectly. With most CHL players being Canadian-born and therefore ineligible to play for the Air Force due to its service academy requirements, Serratore expects that other teams will select CHL players, leaving a pool of quality American players available to the Falcons.

Serratore sees a "massive paradigm shift" in college hockey with the introduction of CHL players, who will be competing against older, more experienced players. He believes that the NCAA landscape will now offer CHL players a chance to develop their skills against top-level competition, setting them up for success in the NHL. The Falcons will face a heavily revamped Colorado College team, which has added several drafted players from the CHL.

Key Takeaways:

  • The NCAA Division I Council's introduction of CHL players to NCAA rosters is a significant change for college hockey, described as a "massive paradigm shift" by Coach Frank Serratore.
  • With most CHL players being Canadian-born, Air Force will not directly benefit from the new rules, requiring them to seek out quality American players.
  • Serratore expects many CHL players to transition to the NCAA in the future, as the collegiate landscape offers a chance to play against older, more experienced players.
  • The CHL is a junior league, but Serratore believes that playing in the NCAA will better prepare CHL players for the professional level.
  • The Air Force team will face a heavily revamped Colorado College team, which has added several drafted players from the CHL.
  • Serratore has a positive attitude and is looking forward to the challenge of competing in this new environment.
  • The coach has been with Air Force for 29 seasons.

Statistics:

  • 60 CHL teams
  • 63 college hockey teams
  • 2-3 American-born players in the CHL who were academically qualified to attend Air Force
  • 9 NHL draft picks on the Colorado College roster last season
  • 6 departures from the Colorado College roster via the transfer portal, graduation, or signing professional deals
  • 2-year deal for Coach Frank Serratore

Sources:

  • The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
  • The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.).
  • Tribune Content Agency, LLC.