His college coaches describe him as “California cool.” Still, a warming trend may be in store for Jr. Ducks alumni Andrew DeCarlo as he enters his senior hockey season at the Air Force Academy.

That’s because the center said he’s fully healthy for the first time in two seasons after undergoing offseason hip surgery.

“I’m hoping to break out a little bit,” he said. “I’ve had good seasons in the past (between 13 and 15 points in each of his first three NCAA seasons), but I think I can do more and just show the kind of player I really can be this year. After the hip surgery, I’m confident going into the season.”

DeCarlo is one of 21 former Jr. Ducks playing NCAA Division I hockey this season, and one of nearly five dozen playing college hockey at some level for 2024-25.

DeCarlo Helped Jr. Ducks to Nationals Twice

DeCarlo was a leader on the three Jr. Ducks teams he played for from 2014-2017, helping coach Sandy Gasseau’s 14U team become the club’s first to reach the Tier I USA Hockey Nationals in 2015. He then helped the 16U team coached by Craig Johnson and Alex Kim reach the Tier I Nationals two seasons later. 

The 2000 birth year was an impact player for Gasseau, who also coached him previously. 

“He always had good hockey sense. He was a baseball player and roller hockey player who started on the ice at Squirts,” Gasseau said. “When he figured out how to transfer those baseball skills to hockey you saw his talent shine through.”

Hockey wasn’t native to the DeCarlo household. Andrew’s father Michael was a Major League Baseball prospect who spent time in the Chicago Cubs’ system. 

“Andrew’s dad was a very athletic guy as well,” Gasseau said. “Andrew showed a lot of ability and a great head for the game early on. He had a knack for scoring big goals because he had soft hands, good timing, and knew where to be. Once he worked on his skating, his game took off.”

2007 Stanley Cup Champs Sparked DeCarlo’s Passion for Hockey

The NHL Ducks also played a big role in inspiring young Andrew. 

“When I first got into hockey around age 6 or 7, my dad was able to get season tickets in 2006-07, so that was my first year really following hockey,” he said. “That Stanley Cup season was a pretty big reason why I fell in love with the game. I was hooked after that.

“I was in the building with my uncle when they won it at Honda Center. My dad didn’t go because my sister had a dance recital. My uncle still teases him about it to this day.”

His favorite player is no stranger to even the most casual Ducks fan.

“I always loved Teemu Selanne. He definitely was my favorite player because he was their goal scorer and so fast," he said. "Ironically, I ended up playing with his son Leevi with the Jr. Ducks years later, and we’re still pretty good friends.”

Time with Jr. Ducks Helped Launch Junior, College Careers
 

DeCarlo’s training with the Jr. Ducks set him up for a strong junior hockey career with the North American Hockey League’s Lone Star Brahmas, where he scored nearly 100 points in 150 games, including a 57-point campaign during his final season.

From there, DeCarlo committed to Air Force. It was a bit of a leap because, unlike many service academy recruits, he didn’t come from a family with a military background.

“It was a new thing for me and my family,” he said. “I always knew they had a D-I hockey program and that it was one of the schools that was relatively close to California (AFA is based in Colorado Springs, Colo.) I had it in the back of my mind that maybe I could go there if it could work out.”

It did. And when he arrived at the Academy, the Falcons had a few holes at center, so DeCarlo was able to step in and play immediately. He enters his fourth season with 101 games of college experience. 

That experience is vital because DeCarlo is one of just five seniors on an Air Force roster that counts just eight upperclassmen among its 28-man roster. If there ever was a season his team needed him to deliver on the offensive prowess he showed with the Jr. Ducks, it’s this one. 

“I thought the best he’s played in college was the last couple of months last season even though he had the hip issue,” Falcons coach Frank Serratore said. “He was more focused, more dialed in, and played with more determination.

“He has a lot of potential, and for our team to maximize its potential, he has to maximize his. He’s been a good player for us, but now is the time for him to be more than a good player. He certainly can be.”

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Jr. Ducks in College Hockey

NCAA Division I

• Zeev Buium, Denver
• Trevor Connelly, Providence
• Andrew DeCarlo, Air Force
• Sam Deckhut, Ohio State
• Emerson Goode, Ferris State
• Josh Groll, Minnesota State
• Cooper Haar, Canisius
• Sam Harris, Denver
• Ty Henricks, Western Michigan
• Colton Huard, New Hampshire
• Ben Ivey, Army West Point
• Jack Ivey, Army West Point
• Zakary Karpa, Harvard
• Jackson Niedermayer, Bowling Green
• Brett Roloson, Niagara
• Ross Roloson, Niagara
• Hunter Sansbury, Sacred Heart
• Henri Schreifels, Stonehill
• Tyler Shea, Brown
• Jason Stefanek, Dartmouth
• Ethan Wolthers, Western Michigan

NCAA Division III

• Chris Alexander, Johnson & Wales
• Wyatt Allan, Morrisville State
• Ben Beister, Curry
• Dalton Garcia, Western New England
• Bryan Gilman, St. Norbert
• Marko Giourof, Curry
• Tyler Green, St. Olaf
• Dylan Gutierrez, Lebanon Valley
• Joseph Harguindeguy, Concordia
• Jakob Karpa, Trinity
• Nick Kent, Hamilton
• Spencer Light, St. Olaf
• John Mulvihill, Tufts
• Jonathan Panisa, St. Olaf
• Jayden Price, Univ. of New England
• Nick Rashkovsky, Williams
• Cody Sherman, St. Olaf

ACHA

• Nate Bishop, Colorado State
• Nolan Crawford, Boise State
• Jackson Ferry, Utah State
• Logan Gallaher, Maryville
• Brandon Grant, San Diego State
• Tryler Lang, Colorado State
• Jay Leung, UC Santa Barbara
• Trevor Lewis, Northern Arizona
• Heath Lo, Texas Christian
• Sam Myers, Arizona
• Anthony Oviedo, Toledo
• Jerrett Overland, Arizona
• Brennan Paine, Grand Canyon
• Tristan Rand, UNLV
• Benji Rutkai, Maryville
• Maxwell Seymour, Alabama (AAU)
• Tyler Shetland, Arizona
• Nate Sulkess, Colorado State
• Jake Tomlinson, Indiana
• Aidan Valdez, Northern Arizona
• Brendan Williams, Arizona