Air Force junior forward Austin Schwartz has been named Atlantic Hockey’s Best Defensive Forward for the 2023-24 season.

Schwartz led the nation with four short-handed goals and ranked third in the nation in blocked shots by a forward with 46.

The Parker native played a key role on the Falcons penalty kill that ranked sixth in the nation, killing 84.8 percent of the opponent’s power plays. His plus-minus ratio was second on the team and his career plus-minus is the best among the team’s forwards.

He also had career-highs of 10 goals, 19 points and won 53.6 percent of his faceoffs this season.

Schwartz is the third Falcon to win the award, joining Ben Carey (2015-16) and Brady Tomlak (2019-20).

Back home, Schwartz played for the Arapahoe Warriors and Colorado Thunderbirds.

Photo/Air Force Athletics

(March 19, 2024)