Army Hockey wraps up record-setting season

While the season didn't end with an Atlantic Hockey Association championship and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament that comes with it, the Army hockey team had a slew of firsts during the 2007-08 season.

A 4-2 loss to Mercyhurst in the semifinals of the Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament concluded the season in Rochester, N.Y. Saturday but not before the Black Knights racked up honors and added to the record books.

Army finished the season with a 19-14-4 mark, winning 19 games for the second straight season. Army finished 17-8-3 in conference games, setting an Academy record for league victories and winning the regular season championship. The title was Army's first championship in hockey, a sport contested at West Point since 1904.

"It was a very special season," said Army head coach Brian Riley after wrapping up his fourth season behind the bench. "If the worst thing that happens to us is losing in the semifinals, we will all have lived a good life.

"We had tremendous senior leadership this season and that is a special class of players, because they were freshmen during my first season. They really set the tone in the room and set the example for our younger players."

During the season, Army set an Atlantic Hockey record by going unbeaten in eight straight games and concluded the season with a 13-2-1 mark in its last 16 games.

Junior Josh Kassel gathered national attention for his stellar play in goal. Kassel posted five shutouts this season, twice allowing no goals in back-to-back games. He was also credited with a shutout in the playoffs. For his stellar play, Kassel was named the Atlantic Hockey Association Player of the Year, the first goalie to win league MVP honors.

"We talk a lot about being the first and this outstanding group of young men was the first team to win a league championship, the first team with an eight-game unbeaten streak in league games and we had the first goalie to win an MVP award. That's pretty special and something I know the players will appreciate later on."

Junior defenseman Zach McKelvie was named to the league's Best Defenseman and joined Kassel and senior forward Luke Flicek as first-team all-league, giving Army three of the six positions on the top unit.

Riley earned his third straight league Coach of the Year honor, the first to be honored for three consecutive seasons.

In addition, sophomore Owen Meyer was named to the second team, Kassel earned the regular season goalie award for his league leading goals against average and the Black Knights were presented with the regular season championship trophy.

Flicek and Meyer, as well as senior Bryce Hollweg all earned national accolades. The three linemates are all on the ballot for hockey's top honor, the Hobey Baker Award. Hollweg is also a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award while Flicek is one of 12 skaters chosen to participate in the Frozen Four Skills Challenge in Denver, Colo.

During the season, Army swept six weekends series', including a pair of wins at Tate Rink against then-No. 20 ranked Air Force. Army also swept AIC twice and during the first round of the playoffs, Connecticut and Sacred Heart.

Army was among the nation's leader in scoring defense and penalty kill all season and led the AHA in both categories.

Flicek was among the nation's leaders in assists and scoring while Hollweg and Meyer were among the country's top goal scorers and point producers.

Kassel, who authored a stretch of allowing just 15 goals in 15 games, was in the top 10 nationally in save percentage and goals against average.

"We all wanted to end the season with a win but when we look back and reflect, this was a tremendous season," said Riley. "At one point this season, we were two points out of seventh place. To have the guys respond the way they did and win the regular season says a lot about the character in the locker room. I couldn't be prouder of the 27 players in Army sweaters. They have continued to raise the bar while being
outstanding young men on and off the ice."