University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, October 20
Mendota Heights, Minn.
7:07 p.m. Central
vs
Lindenwood
Photo by: Nick Wosika
Men's Hockey hosts Lindenwood for first home series of the season
10/19/2023 7:04:00 PM | Men's Hockey
The Tommies return home to the Saint Thomas Ice Arena for two games with their first unranked opponent of the schedule in the Lions of Lindenwood.
ST. PAUL, Minn – The University of St. Thomas Men's Hockey team (1-3-0, 0-0-0 CCHA) will host the Lindenwood Lions (1-2-1) for a pair of non-conference contests this Friday Oct. 20 at 7:07 p.m. and Saturday Oct. 21 at 6:07 p.m.
This weekend marks the first time on the young season in which the Tommies match up with an unranked opponent after a season-opening split with #7/8 St. Cloud State and two losses to #1/2 Minnesota. Three of their first four games have been decided by just one goal, including a 5-4 overtime victory and 1-0 loss to St. Cloud and a 6-5 overtime loss in front of 11,000 at the Xcel Energy Center to Minnesota.
Weekend Recap
Game one of the highly anticipated rivalry lid lifter between the Tommies and Golden Gophers was an instant classic with lead changes, overtime, and a highly invested crowd.
The Gophers got out to a quick 2-0 lead in first period and then had a power play to begin the second frame. Mack Byer's shorthanded goal put the Tommies on the board and shifted the game momentum in the Purple's direction.
The Tommies scored three more unanswered goals in the second and to being the third. Liam Malmquist redirected a Jake Ratzlaff shot, Malmquist's first goal in purple and Ratzlaff's first collegiate point. Matthew Gleason then made what may have been the most impressive play on the night when he bested two Minnesota defensemen to find Malmquist who then setup a wide-open Luke Manning to give the Tommies their first lead.
Lucas Wahlin scored 27 seconds into the third period and the Toms were up 4-2. With emotions riding high for the entire team and Tommie faithful in attendance the mighty Gophers did not back down. They scored three goals in the span of six minutes and if not for Lucas Wahlin's second goal of the game to force overtime, it would have been a disappointing end to a fantastic night.
Jimmy Snuggerud foreshadowed more of what was to come in game two with his second of the game to seal it in overtime for Minnesota.
Game two was a lot closer to those with a hockey-eye than the 3-0 scoreline would lead most to believe. The Gopher's Snuggerud would score nearly 14 minutes into the second period on the power play after both teams matched chances one-for-one. Snuggerud would strike again in the third on an odd-man rush. The final goal of the game came with an empty Tommie net.
Shots in the contest were nearly even at 25 for the home Gophers and 24 for the Tommies. Jacob Sibell made his debut in net for the Purple and stopped 22 of 24 shots he faced.
A Young Pride
The Lindenwood Lions (1-2-1) are entering just their second season as a D1 program after going 7-22-1 in their debut season. The Lions are currently independent and do not compete in an official conference.
Their wins in year one came against Air Force, Bentley, Army, Vermont, and Stonehill. They were outscored 134-92 in their 31 contests.
This season has gotten off to an impressive start with a 4-3 win over Luke Manning's former team Air Force and two close battles to #15 Ohio State. The Lions lost in their first game in Columbus 4-2 but then rallied for a 2-2 tie game in the encore just a night later.
Junior Trent Burnham has started all four games this season to the tune of a 2.91 goals against average and .918 save percentage. His season high 41 saves came in the Ohio State lost and he saved 33 of 35 in the Buckeye tie.
Drew Kuzma is their leading goal scorer with three in his last three games, but he did not play in their last bout. Jake Southgate has tallied four points including a goal and assist in their lone victory.
Top Tommies
The Purple have five players with three or more points through the first four games on the season.
Colorado College transfer Matthew Gleason has quickly become a fan favorite with a two-point game to start the season and an assist on the big stage against Minnesota. Familiar faces Lucas Wahlin and Mack Byers each showed up big time with three-point performances against the Gophers. It was Wahlin's first three-point game of his young career and Byer's second.
Liam Malmquist has too become a fan favorite early in his Tommie career with two two-point showings. He racked up two assists in their upset win in St. Cloud and added a goal and assist against the Gophers.
Luke Manning followed up his three-point game in St. Cloud with a goal against the Gophers.
Due to the nature of the Toms' first two series, there is not a player currently on a point streak.
Puck Stopper Times Two
Aaron Trotter started in 89% of games last season for head coach Rico Blasi and played well with a goals against average of 2.99 and .905 save percentage. Only two goalies in the CCHA made more appearances in net, Blake Pietila of Michigan Tech and Beni Halasz of Northern Michigan.
Through the first four games he has made starts in three of four games with Jacob Sibell emerging as a trustworthy candidate to stop pucks for the Purple.
Sibell is a third-year transfer from Niagara, in a situation where he never truly found his footing. In two years as a Purple Eagle he made 14 appearances for a 2-7-1 record and a goals against average over 3.70 and save percentage below .880.
Now it may be too soon to tell but the junior stood on his head against one of the best offensive teams in the country while making 22 saves in net of 24 shots faced against Minnesota in a losing effort.
Trotter and Sibell could be a goaltender tandem to watch all season long.
Career Firsts
Three Tommies earned some stick taps for career firsts over their two game Gopher series.
Cole Miller earned his first assist on Mack Byer's shorthanded goal and notched a +3 rating in the overtime loss. The freshman currently leads the team with a +4 rating.
Jake Ratzlaff also tallied his first helper as the former Wisconsin footballer has had no issues making the adjustment back to skates.
Tobias Abrahamsson too added an assist in the overtime thriller.
This weekend marks the first time on the young season in which the Tommies match up with an unranked opponent after a season-opening split with #7/8 St. Cloud State and two losses to #1/2 Minnesota. Three of their first four games have been decided by just one goal, including a 5-4 overtime victory and 1-0 loss to St. Cloud and a 6-5 overtime loss in front of 11,000 at the Xcel Energy Center to Minnesota.
Weekend Recap
Game one of the highly anticipated rivalry lid lifter between the Tommies and Golden Gophers was an instant classic with lead changes, overtime, and a highly invested crowd.
The Gophers got out to a quick 2-0 lead in first period and then had a power play to begin the second frame. Mack Byer's shorthanded goal put the Tommies on the board and shifted the game momentum in the Purple's direction.
The Tommies scored three more unanswered goals in the second and to being the third. Liam Malmquist redirected a Jake Ratzlaff shot, Malmquist's first goal in purple and Ratzlaff's first collegiate point. Matthew Gleason then made what may have been the most impressive play on the night when he bested two Minnesota defensemen to find Malmquist who then setup a wide-open Luke Manning to give the Tommies their first lead.
Lucas Wahlin scored 27 seconds into the third period and the Toms were up 4-2. With emotions riding high for the entire team and Tommie faithful in attendance the mighty Gophers did not back down. They scored three goals in the span of six minutes and if not for Lucas Wahlin's second goal of the game to force overtime, it would have been a disappointing end to a fantastic night.
Jimmy Snuggerud foreshadowed more of what was to come in game two with his second of the game to seal it in overtime for Minnesota.
Game two was a lot closer to those with a hockey-eye than the 3-0 scoreline would lead most to believe. The Gopher's Snuggerud would score nearly 14 minutes into the second period on the power play after both teams matched chances one-for-one. Snuggerud would strike again in the third on an odd-man rush. The final goal of the game came with an empty Tommie net.
Shots in the contest were nearly even at 25 for the home Gophers and 24 for the Tommies. Jacob Sibell made his debut in net for the Purple and stopped 22 of 24 shots he faced.
A Young Pride
The Lindenwood Lions (1-2-1) are entering just their second season as a D1 program after going 7-22-1 in their debut season. The Lions are currently independent and do not compete in an official conference.
Their wins in year one came against Air Force, Bentley, Army, Vermont, and Stonehill. They were outscored 134-92 in their 31 contests.
This season has gotten off to an impressive start with a 4-3 win over Luke Manning's former team Air Force and two close battles to #15 Ohio State. The Lions lost in their first game in Columbus 4-2 but then rallied for a 2-2 tie game in the encore just a night later.
Junior Trent Burnham has started all four games this season to the tune of a 2.91 goals against average and .918 save percentage. His season high 41 saves came in the Ohio State lost and he saved 33 of 35 in the Buckeye tie.
Drew Kuzma is their leading goal scorer with three in his last three games, but he did not play in their last bout. Jake Southgate has tallied four points including a goal and assist in their lone victory.
Top Tommies
The Purple have five players with three or more points through the first four games on the season.
Colorado College transfer Matthew Gleason has quickly become a fan favorite with a two-point game to start the season and an assist on the big stage against Minnesota. Familiar faces Lucas Wahlin and Mack Byers each showed up big time with three-point performances against the Gophers. It was Wahlin's first three-point game of his young career and Byer's second.
Liam Malmquist has too become a fan favorite early in his Tommie career with two two-point showings. He racked up two assists in their upset win in St. Cloud and added a goal and assist against the Gophers.
Luke Manning followed up his three-point game in St. Cloud with a goal against the Gophers.
Due to the nature of the Toms' first two series, there is not a player currently on a point streak.
Puck Stopper Times Two
Aaron Trotter started in 89% of games last season for head coach Rico Blasi and played well with a goals against average of 2.99 and .905 save percentage. Only two goalies in the CCHA made more appearances in net, Blake Pietila of Michigan Tech and Beni Halasz of Northern Michigan.
Through the first four games he has made starts in three of four games with Jacob Sibell emerging as a trustworthy candidate to stop pucks for the Purple.
Sibell is a third-year transfer from Niagara, in a situation where he never truly found his footing. In two years as a Purple Eagle he made 14 appearances for a 2-7-1 record and a goals against average over 3.70 and save percentage below .880.
Now it may be too soon to tell but the junior stood on his head against one of the best offensive teams in the country while making 22 saves in net of 24 shots faced against Minnesota in a losing effort.
Trotter and Sibell could be a goaltender tandem to watch all season long.
Career Firsts
Three Tommies earned some stick taps for career firsts over their two game Gopher series.
Cole Miller earned his first assist on Mack Byer's shorthanded goal and notched a +3 rating in the overtime loss. The freshman currently leads the team with a +4 rating.
Jake Ratzlaff also tallied his first helper as the former Wisconsin footballer has had no issues making the adjustment back to skates.
Tobias Abrahamsson too added an assist in the overtime thriller.
Players Mentioned
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