The 100-point career mark is rare among Division I defensemen. Only a few dozen blueliners have ever reached that plateau, and the last time it happened at Air Force was almost 30 years ago.
Falcons senior captain Chris Hedden is on the precipice of the career century mark. The Kalamazoo, MI native currently has 97 points (33 goals, 64 assists) with 10 regular season games remaining plus at least one playoff game.
Hedden is having a career year so far, named Atlantic Hockey Defenseman of the Week six times already this season, including four times over a stretch of five weeks.
His 10 goals lead the team and are the most in the nation by a defenseman. He is second on the team in points with 21 in 20 games, tied for the second most in Division I by a defenseman, and leads the team with 32 blocked shots.
According to Hedden and Air Force coach Frank Serratore, a focus on defense has upped Hedden’s game overall.
“I’ve noticed this year that he’s really worked on the risk-reward aspect of his game,” said Serratore. “In prior years, that needed some work. He’s a natural athlete, a great offensive defenseman, that’s always been clear. But he’s really worked on the back side of his game. His plus-minus (going from -16 last season to +3 this season) bears that out.
“He’s reeled in his game and the back side of his game has been very good. He’s using his partner and his teammates better, picking his spots and working on that risk-reward aspect of his game. He’s toned that way down, and it’s made a massive difference.”
“I’ve focused more on defense, taking it more seriously and putting that first this year,” said Hedden.
“I think my game just overall has developed and matured a lot since being here. Just like as a person, and through my game, just being able to be more disciplined, more meticulous when I make riskier decisions and stuff like that. I think my overall maturity over time has been the biggest difference.”
“He’s leading us defensively, he’s our leading scoring defenseman, he’s out top plus-minus guy, but he also leads our team in block shots,” said Serratore. “He’s always been a gifted athlete, but he’s become a complete player this year and the numbers he’s putting up, put him up in that echelon (of great Air Force defenseman) with him finding his game, finding balance in his game.”
The business management major said he had his heart set on attending a service academy from an early age. His father and brother also served in the military.
“I just wanted to serve my country and everything that the Air Force Academy stands for has always been something that I want to pursue,” said Hedden. “And I think, as much as I’ve got out of it, it’s just made me a much better person in general.”
“We recruited him when he was still playing midget in Michigan,” said Serratore. “It came down to Air Force and Army for him, and I’m glad he made the choice that he did.”
Hedden takes his captaincy seriously, acting as a leader and a mentor to a young roster that includes 21 freshman and sophomores.
“It’s been good,” he said. “You learn from (younger players) as much as they learn from you. We’re a young team, but I think we’re a passionate group. A lot of times, will and determination can cover up mistakes that a young team makes.”
With less than a semester to go, Hedden recounted some career and team highlights.
“Last year, the we had two double overtime winners in the same payoff stretch, which were two of the longest games in Air Force hockey history (first round against Robert Morris and quarterfinals vs. Sacred Heart),” he said. “The Army games are always a lot of fun. And the tournaments that we’ve done like Wisconsin and ASU a couple of times, those have been a lot of fun as well.”
When asked if he’s thinking about the approaching milestone, Hedden said, “I try not to. I just try out and go out and play.
“(A hundred career points) would be awesome, but I’m just trying to focus on winning games. We’ve got a tough stretch right ahead of us, all the way up until the playoffs, so I’m just trying to focus on winning games.”
A Defenseman scoring 100 points has become rarer in recent times as many players putting up the necessary numbers often elect to leave school early to start their pro careers. That’s not the case for Hedden, who will graduate on time and honor his five-year military commitment. But he’s looking at the potential to defer that and explore professional hockey opportunities.
“I’m definitely looking to go the pro route and see what’s in store for me there,” said Hedden. “Everybody’s got the dreams of making it to the NHL, and you never know, so I’d definitely like to give it a shot and see what happens.
“And then, if that doesn’t work out then, I get to serve in the Air Force, which is awesome.”
Serratore says the sky’s the limit for Hedden.
“He’s found that balance that great hockey players have and he’s becoming the leader and the player that he wanted to be, and that we’ve needed him to become.”