Spirit hockey: Wasilla goaltender Air Force bound

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

WASILLA - Andrew Volkening has taken a lot of shots this season - 1,272 to be exact. Now he's taking a shot of his own.

The Wasilla Spirit goaltender has grabbed an opportunity to play Division I college hockey. Volkening has committed to play for the Air Force Academy next season.

It has long been the goal of Volkening to earn a shot to play at the Division I level and the professional ranks. He was talking to schools such as Rochester Institute of Technology and Holy Cross. But that was before Air Force flew in and grabbed the rights to the 6-foot-3 netminder.

Members of the Air Force coaching staff saw Volkening during the Spirit's road trip to Texas earlier this season, and were impressed with what they saw from the Genoa, Ill., native.

&#8220On the road trip in Texas I was seeing a lot of shots, and they just happened to be down there,” Volkening said.

Air Force head coach Frank Serratore saw Volkening on night, and brought an assistant coach to see the Wasilla goaltender the following night.

&#8220He played two really good games, and they just happened to be there,” Wasilla head coach Dean Larson said. &#8220He gave us a chance to win both games. They loved how focused he was.”

The following week Volkening flew to Colorado Springs, Colo., to see the Air Force campus and meet with the coaches. From there, Volkening knew what he wanted to do.

&#8220I just knew coming out of there that this is something really good,” Volkening said.

After his visit, Volkening said he felt Air Force will lead him to success regardless of the path that his hockey career takes him.

By choosing Air Force, Volkening is not just attending a university, but a military academy.

&#8220I'm not worried about it at all,” Volkening said. &#8220It's a good fit for

me.”

Volkening said he does not necessarily come from a military family, but he does have a brother in the Navy. He had considered West Point, and almost joined the reserves. So attending Air Force won't be a total shock to Volkening.

&#8220It'll take more discipline than a regular college, but I'm willing,” Volkening said. &#8220It's one of the few institutions that sets you up for life.”

The Air Force coaching staff saw Volkening in a series where he took a ton of shots, and that's something he has come accustomed to this season. In 37 games with Wasilla he is facing an average of 34.4 per contest. Volkening said the experience has made him a much better goaltender.

&#8220I'm seeing a ton of shots. I love it,” Volkening

said.

Volkening, the starting goaltender of the Springfield version of the Spirit, began the 2005-6 season playing for the Swan Valley Stampeders of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. After a stint in Canada, Volkening opted to return to the NAHL and play for Wasilla.

Since joining the Spirit, he has established himself as one of the top goalies in the 20-team league. He has backstopped 15 of Wasilla's 23 wins, and ranks among league leaders in several statistical categories.

&#8220He's won a few games for us against good teams, and he kept us in other games,” Larson said. &#8220He gives us a chance to win every night.”

Volkening made an immediate impact in Wasilla stopping 32 or more shots in his first eight games with the Mat-Su hockey squad. He faced 342 shots during that stretch.

In one of those games Volkening stopped 45 shots in a 1-0 shootout win over Texas.

&#8220A lot of goalies can make saves, but not a lot of goalies can make the big saves,” Larson said. &#8220Make the saves that maybe he's not supposed to make.”