University of St. Thomas Athletics
Michigan Tech
Game Notes -- Men's Hockey hosts Michigan Tech for weekend pair
11/17/2022 3:24:00 PM | Men's Hockey
St. Paul, Minn. - St. Thomas Men's Hockey (2-10-0 overall, 1-5-0 CCHA) has its first home, two-game conference series of the season, this weekend against Michigan Tech (6-3-2, 2-2-2). Saint Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights is the site. Friday's game starts at 7:07 p.m., while Saturday's game starts at 6:07 p.m.
Six of the Toms' next eight games are at home after playing seven of the last eight on the road.
Last season, St. Thomas went 0-3-1 vs MTU -- 6-2 and 4-3 losses at Michigan Tech; and a 3-3 overtime tie and 2-0 loss on home ice. to the Huskies.
The Toms had several strong moments but couldn't break through in last weekend's 3-2 and 3-2 losses at Bowling Green. Friday, the Tommies allowed a pair of power-play goals, and Saturday they gave up two goals in the game's final 5:00 after leading 2-1. St. Thomas is 0-6 vs. Bowling Green in the last two seasons despite a modest 19-9 margin being outscored.
Michigan Tech is receiving votes and is currently four spots out of the top 20 in this week's USCHO poll. Coming off a 2-0 home win against Lake Superior State, MTU has a 2-1-2 record in games decided by one goal or by tie. In 2021-22, Michigan Tech finished second in the CCHA at 16-8-2 (21-13-3 overall). This season, MTU currently sits in fifth place in the standings. Ryland Mosley currently leads the team in goals (five) and points (11). He's tied with Nick Mardella for the team lead in assists (six). Senior goalie Blake Pietila has a 1.77 GAA, and is 6-3-1 in his 10 starts.
The Huskies have three Minnesotans on the roster: Sophomore Levi Stauber (Hermantown); and freshmen brothers Kyle and Trevor Kukkonen (Maple Grove).
Follow
Friday's live video can be accessed HERE:
The games can be heard live on SkorNorth AM 1500 (HERE via computer):
Live Stats can be accessed HERE:
Did You Know?
- Six of the Toms' losses have come vs. top-10 ranked Penn State, St. Cloud State and Minnesota State.
- Seven different players have recorded the Purple's last seven goals.
- Freshman Jake Braccini has scored in five of his last seven contests.
- Last season (36 games), the Toms were outscored by a near 3-to-1 margin, 167-61. In this season's 12 games the Purple have been outscored just 44-26.
- The Toms rank 22nd in D-I in fewest penalty minutes (10.5 a game).
- Cooper Gay was playing in just his fourth college game Oct. 28 when he scored twice against MSU. He joined a short list of Toms to record a two-goal game.
- The Toms had their third sellout crowd of the season Oct. 28 (961 spectators), a program record in the 20-year run at the STA rink.
Poised Performer
Freshman Aaron Trotter ranks in the top 20 nationally among all D-I goalies in most minutes played (602) and in total saves (282 in nine contests).
Quoting Coach Rico Blasi (after two one-goal defeats at Bowling Green)
"I think it's important that we double down on our culture and what we believe in and our process. We have to get better on our daily habits. If you're going to talk process and our culture, you can't worry about outcomes, you have continue to worry about how you get there. We've got really good stretches of games where we're really good and stretches of maybe not as much lately. For us as a unit, as a program, as a group, what we need to do is double down on what we believe in, and keep working hard.
"I expect them [Michigan Tech] to work hard first and foremost. [Coach] Joe Shawhan teams work hard. They're going to be in your face and ready to go, they're well prepared. They've got really good goaltending, and offensively they can be very dynamic and stingy on (defense). We have to be ready to go and play our game and be focused on what we need to do."
Close Calls
The Purple have 18 losses by one or two goals so far in the D-I era (seven so far this season). St. Thomas is 3-9 in one-goal decisions, and 0-9 in games decided by two goals in its two-season D-I era.
Tommie Talk
St. Thomas went 3-32-1 last season in year one of Division I, but the Purple showed marked improvement over the last half of the season. Their won-loss record included eight losses to teams ranked No. 1 or 2 in the national polls; 13 losses by one- or two-goal margins; and three overtime defeats.
--
Click HERE to access complete weekly Tommie Men's Hockey game notes
--
