MIKE
KNAEBLE
Air Force
Jr. | F | Eden Prairie, Minn.
Knaeble,
who came to Air Force straight out of high school, saw
his production jump from four points as a freshman to
20 last year.
Key
Statistics: With the graduations of seniors Shane
Saum and Spanky Leonard, Knaeble will be the leading returning
scorer for the Falcons after registering 20 points (8g, 12a)
last year. He also notched three short-handed goals, good
for a tie for seventh in the nation.
What
He Does: Standing 6-feet-1 and weighing 195 pounds,
Knaeble has the frame to be a menacing power forward in College
Hockey America. He’s valuable at both ends of the rink
because of his ability to score and his willingness to defend.
Air Force doesn’t have a wealth of playmakers, so Knaeble
has to wring out every drop of offensive flair he has in order
to keep the Falcons competitive.
The
Bigger Picture: As with a Slurpee, consistency will
be the key for Knaeble. He came to the academy straight from
high school, and his youth has been evident in up-and-down
performances the last two years. At times, he’ll be
one of the most active players on the ice. Other times, he’ll
be just a step away from making the plays his coaches want
to see. There’s no question Knaeble has the talent to
be Air Force’s best player. The question is whether
he will do it.
Air
Force coach Frank Serratore says: “He’s
a big, strong right wing who, at our level, could be a Cam
Neely-type player. He hasn’t done it yet at the college
level, but he has a tremendous upside and is a wonderful young
man. This could be a breakthrough year for him.”
