2017 NCAA MENS ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP

EAST REGIONAL DUNKIN DONUTS CENTER PROVIDENCE, R.I.

AIR FORCE PRE-TOURNAMENT PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
MARCH 23, 2017

Head Coach Frank Serratore

Opening Statement
Obviously its great to be back here, we played in 5 tournaments in 6 years and I didnt think
it was ever going to end. Then we went 4 years without it and I was wondering for a while if
it was ever going to happen again. Things werent looking good when we lost the last regular
season game of the year, we had an opportunity to win the regular season championship
and put ourselves within the top 10 of the power rankings and we lost a heartbreaker with
Sacred Heart pulling their goalie and beating us in OT. Instead of being in a great position to
get an at large we put ourselves in danger of not making the tournament. Fortunately the
guys got it back together and we won two tough games in the quarter finals against Sacred
Heart, beat a miserably tough Army team and played OReilly back there on St. Patricks
Day, the leprechauns almost got us. We won that one 1-0. Then in the Atlantic Championship
against Robert Morris who knocked off the regular season champs, Canisus. We beat a tough
Robert Morris team 2-1. Ironically we had to win that last game to get in, if we lost that last
game we were out. We know this because we checked with the Russians and they said they
couldnt even hack us in. we beat Robert Morris and we get into the tournament and now we
are a 3 seed. If we lost we were out, but we win and we jump an entire band and we end up
being a 3 seed. Its great being here, we are excited to be here and we are looking forward to
the games tomorrow.

On how he rallied the guys after the Sacred Heart loss

That was devastating, that was the most important regular season game that I have ever
been involved in. We won the regular season championship twice, we had to win the last
game of the regular season both times in order to accomplish that. We did that oddly
enough on the road, we beat RIT in RIT, which was not easy to do to win the first one. The
second one we won at Robert Morris which is never an easy place. Now we had the 10 th
place team in our building on the last day of the season, and we lost. It was the most
important game, not so much that it was for the regular season championship but because
of the RPI. We were told if we had won that game the RPI would have had us bouncing to
around 9 or 10. Which would have given us a little bit of rope in the playoffs. If we had for
sure gotten to the game against Army, if we win that one then maybe we dont have to win
the regular season championship and maybe we dont even have to win that game to get in.
we lost the most important game, lost ourselves a regular season banner. More so it pushed
us on the parameter. Ill tell you I didnt want to live with that. If this team with a 26-9
record, with not really won anything and not getting into the NCAA tournament, I would have
taken that to my grave. Thank god the boys rallied and we found a way to win the
tournament. Im at peace with it now because we are here and we are going to put at least
one banner up in our building this year. How did I rally them? We came back on Monday, we
showed the film. The 5 against 6 and everything. We looked right at it and I said Look at
this, can we fix this? Can we correct this? it was devastating, we came back and we knew
we were going to face a good team in the quarter finals. We needed to get over it. In our
league we got a bye week, the top 4 teams get a bye and they end up at home. We were
tired by that last game, we had put a lot into trying to win that regular season
championship, I dont know if you were aware of the run Canisius put on. They always
played weird nights like Thursdays and Fridays. So we knew they had played and they had
2017 NCAA MENS ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP
EAST REGIONAL DUNKIN DONUTS CENTER PROVIDENCE, R.I.
AIR FORCE PRE-TOURNAMENT PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
MARCH 23, 2017

never lost, we would go into Friday saying we need to win. Then they win on Friday and we
go into Saturday and we need to win. It went this way for about 5-6 weeks. We had a great
run and they had an even better run. We were tired that Saturday night, we were ready for it
to come to an end. People will sometimes say I dont know if its good to have the bye week
or not. It was huge for us to have the bye week, not physically but mentally. We were
drained after that last regular season game. It was great for us to have that weekend off just
to reset. Give credit to the guys we won the next 4 games in a row. Three of them by the
way with goalie pulls against good teams. We overcame it.
On what he thinks his teams identity is and its strengths
We are going to play the same regardless of who we play. We are a 4 line team with 6
forwards. Looking at the scoring there isnt much separating all the way down. The goddy
mark would be Himleys 20 goals. We have a lot of good players. Even good to very good.
Our marquee player, the guy that makes the difference for us is Starrett our goalie. Hes 65
and athletic, hes been good. Why are we a good penalty killing team? You look at good
penalty killing teams and the best penalty killer is the goalie. When you play against us we
are going to play 4 line, 3 sets of defense. We arent going to vary the way we play. We are
going to go up and down and we are going to compete. We are going to play 4 lines and 6 D.
If you are going to beat us you are going to have to beat all 18 skaters and our goalie. We
arent going to shorten the bench. Like I said at the beginning of the year when people ask
us what we look like. I dont know what we got but we got a lot of it. Try to pick out with
the naked eye after watching our practice who our 1st line is and who our 4th line is, have a
difficult time. Whos our 1st D and our 6th D? Its a difficult time. It changes by night with
whos playing well and who isnt.

On if he finds it easier to schedule games with teams who have been resistant in the past,
and whether the conference will be viable if your schools dont open the doors for other
teams
For one thing you can paint our conference with the same brush. I can tell you right now Air
Force, Army, RIT. We have had zero problems scheduling games. As a matter of fact we cant
schedule all the teams that want to play us. People come into our building to play, it just is
that way. Where it was difficult is with the Bentleys, AICs, Sacred Hearts. The teams that
dont have their own buildings and are playing in city rinks and those types of things. Now
with AIC going downtown in Springfield and Sacred Heart playing in the Harbor center or
whatever they call it. With Bentley getting their new rink coming in theirs no question about
it. We should have no problem, we play 28 games and only have 6 non-league games
available. I think the ECAC plays 21 games, they need to get games somewhere. The NCAC
plays 24 they need to get games somewhere. With the improvement of venues before the
have not type teams in terms of facilities its going to help them schedule home and homes.
There should be no problem if teams hold to their guts. We have talked about it as a league,
the coaches. We dont want guarantees, we are looking for home and homes. If we are going
to improve our RPI as a league, we got to get home games. Its hard to win on the road, I
dont care who you are. Its hard to go into other peoples buildings and win. For us to
improve our RPI as a league we need to get some wins. The easiest way, there is no easy
way to get wins, but the easiest way if there is one is to get home games. I dont care who
you are you come into Air Force, not many teams come here and sweep. I cant remember
2017 NCAA MENS ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP
EAST REGIONAL DUNKIN DONUTS CENTER PROVIDENCE, R.I.
AIR FORCE PRE-TOURNAMENT PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
MARCH 23, 2017

the last time it happened. The scholarships have all increased, all the teams in our league
will be playing with the same amount of bullets as the other leagues. The venue
improvements, you are going to see the RPI of our league continue to get better. Those are
probably the two biggest factors.

A.J. Reid #24 Air Force

On what it was like traveling to Providence

We play most of our games on the east coast when we are away so we are pretty used to it.
It was a long day, we left our dorm rooms around 6am and we got into the hotel around
10pm last night. It was a long day of travel, but we are used to it and we have fun on the
road with the guys. We mess around and what not so it was good. (COACH) Its my favorite
quote, its a good thing we are the Air Force and not the bus force that would be a long bus
ride out here from Colorado Springs.

On if you can take anything from playing Western Michigan back in November into this
game
As you said Friday we tied, there was two points in that game that we were down 2 goals
and we found a way to fight back. Just knowing that we arent out of it at any point in the
game and knowing we can come back is one thing that is huge for us, confidence wise. I
think if we can get pucks in deep and play more of a ground game then an up and down
game, it will enable us to wear them down more. We got into an up and down battle with
them on Saturday and it really wore on us.

Johnny Hrabovsky #3 Air Force

On if it playing for someone who can keep it light makes it easier on you after a long day in a
military academy
Its definitely nice, especially your freshman year you go through a lot of crap up on the hill
that the school is on. You go through all the crap up there and it gets progressively better as
it goes on (COACH CHIMES IN) there called tasks
Its nice, this is a face for the media, its as intense as it gets. All of our coaches are and we
like to have a good time. When we go through all the tasks, you want to let loose down at
the rink. We have fun at the rink but its intense and as competitive as it can be.
A.J. Reid answers
We are always joking around as if we were brothers. All the stuff we have to do during the
day, thats the time where you are dialed in and when we get to film you need to make sure
you are dialed in there to. Once we get on the ice and in the locker room we have a lot of
fun.

On what they think of the venue, and the ice

It was pretty cut up when we got out there so the pucks were bouncing a lot, but that is kind
of expected. The boards were very lively, especially as a defenseman it will play a big role in
taking point shots of the backboard. We almost got a goal like that last week, so we will look
for it again if it presents itself.
2017 NCAA MENS ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP
EAST REGIONAL DUNKIN DONUTS CENTER PROVIDENCE, R.I.
AIR FORCE PRE-TOURNAMENT PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
MARCH 23, 2017

A.J. Reid
Ill just add that it seems like there is a little extra room in the offensive zone, a more NHL
style rink then we are used to playing in. special teams will be important come this
weekend.

On what their thoughts are on what Steve Miller contributes to the program
Coach or killer as what we call him. He is probably or is the smartest hockey mind I have
ever been around. Its been an absolute privilege to play for him the last 2 years. Like you
said keeping it light, his personality is perfect when its time to dial in. Hes the most
intelligent guy I have ever been around, so I have learned a lot about him. When it comes
time to relax hes just as fun and is one of the funniest guys I have ever been around as well,
hes a great guy to have around.
COACH
His job primarily was to come in and coach our coaching staff. Thats what we brought him in
for. Hes our director of hockey and hes made our coaching staff. Ill agree hes the best
hockey man Ive ever been around and Ive been around a lot of them. Hes made our
coaching staff better. He brought all the secrets from Denver and Providence.
Championships seem to follow that guy, he won 2 at Denver and 1 at Providence. I dont
think it was a coincidence the World Jr. Team won the gold medal this year. He was in the
board room helping put together the game plans just like he does for us.