University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, October 27
Bemidji, Minn. / Sanford Center
7:07 p.m. Central
at
Bemidji State
Photo by: Patrick Hart
CCHA opener on tap for Men's Hockey in Bemidji
10/26/2023 6:21:00 PM | Men's Hockey
The Tommies will face off with the Bemidji State Beavers for a CCHA series at 7 and 6 p.m. at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minn.
ST. PAUL, Minn – After three weeks of nonconference play to start the season, the University of St. Thomas Men's Hockey team (2-3-1) heads up north for a CCHA clash with the Beavers of Bemidji State (1-3-0) on Friday, Oct. 27 at 7:07 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 28 at 6:07 p.m.
The last time these two sides matched up for a conference series was the final week of last year's regular season schedule. St. Thomas came away with its first victory over the Beavers with a 3-1 victory in Mendota Heights but settled for the split after dropping game two 7-2.
The Purple are coming off a successful weekend with a series victory over the Lindenwood Lions. They tied 4-4 with the second-year program but outshot them 63-25 on home ice. The Toms then took care of business in game two, defeating Lindenwood 3-1.
Weekend Recap
Game one of the Tommies and Lions series was, at times, dumbfounding. The Tommies had five chances on the power play (including a five-minute major), they won nearly 60 percent of their faceoffs, and put 63 shots on goal, the most in program history (including the DIII days). Yet they could not pull away from the upstart Lindenwood outfit.
The Toms outshot the Lions 28-3 in the first period and walked into the first intermission with a 2-0 lead. The Lions answered back with two of their own in the second and then Jake Braccini gave the Tommies the lead into the second break.
Under two minutes into the third, Lindenwood tied it for the second time, and then just a minute later Ryan O'Neill put St. Thomas back in front. The Lions sent home the equalizer with seven to play and despite a 7-2 shots on goal advantage down the stretch, the Tommies were pushed into overtime.
The home team rattled off five consecutive shots to begin the overtime period and outshot the visitors 6-1 in total, neither side could seal the deal and thus the game resulted in a tie.
Game two went much more according to plan for head coach Rico Blasi and his team. The Toms outshot their opponent in the first 13-3 but did not break open the scoring five minutes into the second. Cooper Gay sent one through and then Luc Laylin tipped a wonderful feed from Matthew Gleason into the twine for a 2-0 Tommie advantage.
The Lions' only goal of the game against Jake Sibell and the Toms was a shorthanded odd man rush rebound. James Marooney lost his feet on the blue line and coughed up the puck for a Lindenwood rush. The Lions were two on one and were thwarted by Sibell on their first shot attempt. The Toms' netminder sent the puck high into the air but right onto the stick of Lindenwood's second forward on the play.
Sibell stopped 15 of 16 total shots and if qualified would currently lead the conference in goals against average and be second in save percentage. The junior transfer was named CCHA Goaltender of the Week for his performance in the Toms' first regulation victory of the season.
Lucas Wahlin's empty net goal sent the Lions home with their tails between their legs.
Top Tommies vs Bemidji State
Mack Byers totaled five goals and two assists last season vs BSU. He also went 43-40 in faceoffs.
Lucas Wahlin had two goals and five assists against the Beavers.
Aaron Trotter faced 119 shots for a .891 save percentage a year ago.
Cooper Gay has the Tommies' only game-winning goal against Bemidji.
Notable BSU Losses
Bemidji lost four of their top five point scorers from last season. Only returning their top point scorer, Lleyton Roed.
· 2022-23 Sr. Defensemen Elias Rosen had 28 Pts last season (4G-24A). Rosen had two goals and five assists against the Purple last season.
· 2022-23 5th yr. Forward Ross Armour was third in points with 22 (14G-8A). He tallied two goals and dished out three assists against St. Thomas last season.
· 2022-23, Sr. Defensemen Will Zmolek was fourth in points, totaling 21 (4G-17A). Zmolek had three of his four goals against the Tommies last year.
· 2022-23 5th year Mitchell Martan was fifth in points with 18 (8G-10A).
Eight of the Beaver's 16 goals against the Tommies last season were score by players no longer on the team.
Tommie Tidbits
Ethan Gauer played in four games for the Bemidji State Beavers during the 2020-21 season.
Noah Prokop is tied for fourth in the country with 73 face-off wins. Mack Byers is 18th in the category and Luke Manning is 21st.
Liam Malmquist is tied for 23rd in the nation in assists per game. (1.0)
There are just eight teams with fewer penalty minutes per game then the Tommies at nine per. Included in those eight teams are conference opponents Ferris State and Minnesota State, along with non-conference opponent Minnesota.
The Toms are just one of 20 teams in the country with a shorthanded goal.
The last time these two sides matched up for a conference series was the final week of last year's regular season schedule. St. Thomas came away with its first victory over the Beavers with a 3-1 victory in Mendota Heights but settled for the split after dropping game two 7-2.
The Purple are coming off a successful weekend with a series victory over the Lindenwood Lions. They tied 4-4 with the second-year program but outshot them 63-25 on home ice. The Toms then took care of business in game two, defeating Lindenwood 3-1.
Weekend Recap
Game one of the Tommies and Lions series was, at times, dumbfounding. The Tommies had five chances on the power play (including a five-minute major), they won nearly 60 percent of their faceoffs, and put 63 shots on goal, the most in program history (including the DIII days). Yet they could not pull away from the upstart Lindenwood outfit.
The Toms outshot the Lions 28-3 in the first period and walked into the first intermission with a 2-0 lead. The Lions answered back with two of their own in the second and then Jake Braccini gave the Tommies the lead into the second break.
Under two minutes into the third, Lindenwood tied it for the second time, and then just a minute later Ryan O'Neill put St. Thomas back in front. The Lions sent home the equalizer with seven to play and despite a 7-2 shots on goal advantage down the stretch, the Tommies were pushed into overtime.
The home team rattled off five consecutive shots to begin the overtime period and outshot the visitors 6-1 in total, neither side could seal the deal and thus the game resulted in a tie.
Game two went much more according to plan for head coach Rico Blasi and his team. The Toms outshot their opponent in the first 13-3 but did not break open the scoring five minutes into the second. Cooper Gay sent one through and then Luc Laylin tipped a wonderful feed from Matthew Gleason into the twine for a 2-0 Tommie advantage.
The Lions' only goal of the game against Jake Sibell and the Toms was a shorthanded odd man rush rebound. James Marooney lost his feet on the blue line and coughed up the puck for a Lindenwood rush. The Lions were two on one and were thwarted by Sibell on their first shot attempt. The Toms' netminder sent the puck high into the air but right onto the stick of Lindenwood's second forward on the play.
Sibell stopped 15 of 16 total shots and if qualified would currently lead the conference in goals against average and be second in save percentage. The junior transfer was named CCHA Goaltender of the Week for his performance in the Toms' first regulation victory of the season.
Lucas Wahlin's empty net goal sent the Lions home with their tails between their legs.
Top Tommies vs Bemidji State
Mack Byers totaled five goals and two assists last season vs BSU. He also went 43-40 in faceoffs.
Lucas Wahlin had two goals and five assists against the Beavers.
Aaron Trotter faced 119 shots for a .891 save percentage a year ago.
Cooper Gay has the Tommies' only game-winning goal against Bemidji.
Notable BSU Losses
Bemidji lost four of their top five point scorers from last season. Only returning their top point scorer, Lleyton Roed.
· 2022-23 Sr. Defensemen Elias Rosen had 28 Pts last season (4G-24A). Rosen had two goals and five assists against the Purple last season.
· 2022-23 5th yr. Forward Ross Armour was third in points with 22 (14G-8A). He tallied two goals and dished out three assists against St. Thomas last season.
· 2022-23, Sr. Defensemen Will Zmolek was fourth in points, totaling 21 (4G-17A). Zmolek had three of his four goals against the Tommies last year.
· 2022-23 5th year Mitchell Martan was fifth in points with 18 (8G-10A).
Eight of the Beaver's 16 goals against the Tommies last season were score by players no longer on the team.
Tommie Tidbits
Ethan Gauer played in four games for the Bemidji State Beavers during the 2020-21 season.
Noah Prokop is tied for fourth in the country with 73 face-off wins. Mack Byers is 18th in the category and Luke Manning is 21st.
Liam Malmquist is tied for 23rd in the nation in assists per game. (1.0)
There are just eight teams with fewer penalty minutes per game then the Tommies at nine per. Included in those eight teams are conference opponents Ferris State and Minnesota State, along with non-conference opponent Minnesota.
The Toms are just one of 20 teams in the country with a shorthanded goal.
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