26 NAHL Alumni Succeeding at the Air Force Academy

December 12, 2025

The Air Force Academy continues to be a prime example of NAHL alumni finding success on the college stage. With 26 players with NAHL ties on the 2025-26 roster, the league is proud to have players take their next steps in their hockey careers with the Falcons.

Frank Serratore is in his 29th season serving as the head coach of the Air Force Academy’s men’s ice hockey program. Over his tenure, Serratore has spent many years recruiting from the League of Opportunity, and this past season is no different. He explains why the NAHL continues to be a destination for his program to recruit players from.

“These athletes that come in from the North American League, they come, and they are battle-tested. They are experts at time management. And they have a different level of maturity. They know more of what they are getting into. When they come into the Academy, they know it's going to be challenging. If they're having trouble academically, they're not afraid to ask for help because they are older. They're more mature.”

Year after year, NAHL alumni make waves on a national scale. This season, former Shreveport Mudbug (2020-21), Chris Hedden, is dominating the ice from the blue line and is currently the leading scorer among defensemen in Atlantic Hockey. The Kalamazoo, Michigan, native has earned four Atlantic Hockey’s Defenseman of the Week titles, with three of them in consecutive weeks. His offensive prowess also helped him be named Atlantic Hockey’s Defenseman of the Month for November. He featured five goals and six assists over nine games played in November. He posted 11 points while notching a +4 rating. His ability on the ice was also noticed by the Hockey Commissioners Association, where he was named HCA National Co-Defender of the Month for his work in November.

Joining him, earning distinction is the Air Force’s starting netminder, Dominik Wasik. The former Aberdeen Wing (2020-22) and Johnstown Tomahawk (2022) have spotlighted two Atlantic Hockey Goaltender of the Week titles in November while picking up Atlantic Hockey’s Goaltender of the Month honors. The Colorado native featured a dominating .920 save percentage and 2.31 goals-against average. He led the conference with 241 saves, being the only netminder with 200+ saves during the month.

The list does not stop there, with former NAHL players making an impact with the Air Force Academy. Right now, Nick Sajevic, former Chippewa Steel (2021-22) and Janesville Jet (2023-24), is showcasing his offensive prowess for the Falcons, just like he once did in the League of Opportunity. Sajevic leads all skaters in Atlantic Hockey with 18 assists and 21 total points. Joining him in making an impact on the scoresheet is Sam Stitz, a former Maryland Black Bear (2022-24). The sophomore skater is tied second on his roster with 16 points on the year, tallying six goals while making 10 assists.

Third-year skater and former Maine Nordique (2021-23), Brendan Gibbons has contributed offensively to the Falcons this season, featuring 13 total points. He has found the back of the net four times while notching nine assists. The League of Opportunity has become a family affair in the Gibbons household because Gibbons’ younger brother, Drew Gibbons, is skating with the Northeast Generals this season and is currently committed to the Air Force Academy.

More players who are lighting the lamp and making an impact are former Fairbanks Ice Dog (2021-22) Nolan Cunningham and Minot Minotauro (2023-24) Will Dawson. Cunningham is a third-year blueliner for the Falcons and has found twine five times while securing seven assists for his team. Dawson is a part of the top line for Air Force and has 12 points so far this season. He has secured five tallies and produced seven assists.

When athletes head to the Air Force Academy, many of them have that innate leadership quality. Wearing a “C” for Air Force this season are Mason McCormick (Shreveport Mudbugs, 2020-21), Holt Oliphant (Johnstown Tomahawks, 2020-22), and Chris Hedden. With all three senior captains having NAHL ties, Serratore explains why the Academy draws that type of character.

“When you think about somebody that would be attractive to the service academies, it is the type of kids that have natural leadership skills. It's very rare that we get a player who was not a captain on his previous teams. And, when you go in our locker room, we have our captains, but basically they're the captains of the captains.”

The dedication to the game is unparalleled. Serratore continues to share why the players they recruit are one-of-a-kind from the NAHL.

“We can question a lot of things, but one thing you can not question is his passion and love for the game. When you get a player from the North American League, you know they have had to deal with adversity and have probably been cut at some time in their life. But they did not quit, they love the game they want to play, and they continue to do so.”

That desire for more is why athletes continue to thrive at the Academy. With that, the opportunities the league alumni receive at the Air Force Academy go so much farther than playing on the college stage. All athletes attending the Academy receive a world-class education. With that, life after hockey is something that is top of mind for the players. Serratore dives into detail on how the Academy prepares its players for the next steps in their careers following their time with the Air Force.

“There is a reason why these Fortune 500 companies like our guys and why they are first in line for jobs. They know that our athletes are people of high character who have lived under an honor code. They have done things that their peers either could not do or chose not to do.”

President and Commissioner of the NAHL, Mark Frankenfeld, shares why the continued relationship with the Air Force Academy.

“The North American Hockey League is proud to see the league’s alumni continue to thrive with the Air Force Academy under Frank Serratore’s leadership. Year after year, the league sees multiple players get opportunities with the Falcons. The development model of the NAHL provides their future players the ample experience to be prepared to compete on the college stage. We are very proud of our alumni as their team continues to succeed while seeing them earn numerous honors.”

Right now, there are nine players who are committed to skate for the Air Force Academy with NAHL ties. Third-year veteran of the Aberdeen Wings, Gavin Reed, will be skating for the Falcons next fall. Staying in the Central Division, Zander Lipsett from the Austin Bruins and Sammy Crane from the St. Cloud Norsemen are heading to play with the Academy as well. Joining them from the Anchorage Wolverines are Duke Gentzler and Caleb Mahar. While up in the Land of the Midnight Sun, one of the most recent commits comes from David Greene from the Kenai River Brown Bears. Down South, Isaac Suh from the Lone Star Brahmas and Francois DeVillers, a former skater for the New Mexico Ice Wolves, will be heading to skate with the Falcons. Lastly, Drew Gibbons from the Northeast Generals will hit the ice with the Academy for his collegiate career.

Former NAHL Players on the 2025-26 Roster

Cole Christian - Anchorage Wolverines (2023-25)

Carter Clofton - Minot Minotauros (2020-22) & Amarillo Wranglers (2022-23)

Nolan Cunningham - Fairbanks Ice Dogs (2021-22)

Will Dawson - Minot Minotauros (2023-24)

Owen DuBois - Aberdeen Wings (2019-23)

Nate Farrell - Oklahoma Warriors & Wisconsin Windigo (2024-25)

Oli Genest - Maine Nordiques (2022-23) & New Hampshire Mountain Kings (2024-25)

Brendan Gibbons - Maine Nordiques (2021-23)

Chris Hedden - Shreveport Mudbugs (2020-21)

Toby Hopp - Northeast Generals (2022-24)

Simon Houge - Minnesota Wilderness (2022-23)