University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, December 8
Mankato, Minn. / Mayo Clinic HSEC
7:07 p.m. Central
at
Minnesota State
Men's Hockey and Minnesota State add another chapter to in-state rivalry this weekend
12/7/2023 1:05:00 PM | Men's Hockey
The Tommies remain at the top of the CCHA standings with 18 points, perennial power Minnesota State is on their heels with 14 points in two fewer conference games.
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of St. Thomas Men's Hockey team (8-7-1, 6-4-0 CCHA) plays the Mavericks of Minnesota State (6-6-2, 4-3-1 CCHA) in a home-and-home conference series this weekend, first on the road in Mankato Friday night and then on home ice Saturday. Both contests are set for a 7:07 p.m. puck drop.
Look mom, we're on TV
Both games this weekend will be available in the Twin Cities on Fox 9+. Wondering how to watch Fox 9+? Follow this link for channel listings: https://www.fox9.com/plus.
This weekend's matchups will mark the third and fourth time the Tommies will be televised on a Fox channel. The season-opening overtime thriller with St. Cloud State appeared on Fox 9+ and the instant classic at the Xcel Energy Center between the Gophers and Tommies could be seen on Fox 9.
Splitting points with the Bulldogs
It was a second consecutive CCHA split for the Toms, this time it was a game one loss and game two victory against Ferris State. The first game in Big Rapids, Michigan ended 5-2 and the Tommies bounced back in game two with their largest victory of the DI era, 7-1.
The Bulldogs got on the board first Friday night with an opening period goal just three minutes in. They took their 1-0 lead into the locker room despite being outshot 16-8 in the frame. Logan Stein played phenomenally for Ferris, making stops on the first 23 shots he faced. Jake Braccini ended his shutout bid with 52 seconds left in the second period on the power play. The sophomore's goal was too little too late though after FSU piled on for four goals in the frame.
Both sides added another tally in the third period. Lucas Wahlin scored on the power play with 2:02 to go, making it a 5-2 hockey game.
Game two was a much different story for the Purple. They scored three goals in the first period, three in the second, and one in the third.
All three captains scored power play goals in the second period: Luke Manning from Braccini and Ethan Gauer, Lucas Wahlin from Ryan O'Neill, and Grant Docter, and Mack Byers from Wahlin and O'Neill.
Mack Byers found the back of the net three times, once in each period. His hat trick was the first of the DI era for St. Thomas.
Both Ryan O'Neill (1G-4A) and Lucas Wahlin (1G-4A) tallied five points in the contest and the line of O'Neill-Byers-Wahlin contributed five goals and 13 points to the cause. O'Neill was rewarded with his first CCHA Forward of the Week honor for his six-point weekend.
Jacob Sibell shined in net once again. The junior stopped 33 of the 34 shots he faced and secured the fourth win of his season.
Extra special (teams) lately
It was no secret that the Toms struggled on special teams to start the season. They scored just four goals on 49 power play opportunities (8%) in their first 12 games and allowed 13 power play goals on 45 penalty kills (71%) during that same stretch.
Over their last four games the fortunes of the special teams' units have turned around. They have scored six goals on 16 power plays (38%) and have allowed just two power play goals on 15 kills (87%).
Toms and Mavs
Things have been a little one-sided In St. Thomas' short history against Minnesota State over the last two seasons. The Mavericks had won each of the first eight meetings between the two, outscoring the Toms 48-11.
St. Thomas secured their first win last season with a 3-2 overtime victory in Mankato in February, Mack Byers scored the game-winner in the extra frame. Luc Laylin scored the other two goals for the Purple and Aaron Trotter got the win in the crease with 43 saves on 45 shots.
Before the 2022-23 season, the Toms had lost by four or more in their six matchups during year one. The games got much more competitive during year two with two one-goal games and a three-goal contest that included an empty-netter.
This season the Mavericks enter the weekend in third place just four points behind the upstart first place Tommies. The Mavs lost their winningest coach in program history (Mike Hastings .732 win %) and each of their eight top points scorers from 2022-23.
Of their 18 goals scored against the Toms last season, they return players who accounted for just five of those tallies. They do return both of their netminders from a season ago, Alex Tracy and Kennan Rancier. Tracy got one win against St. Thomas last season while Rancier went 2-1 against the Purple.
Way to go Ry-no
Ryan O'Neill recorded six points with one goal and five assists in the Toms' road split with Ferris State. He skated to a +3 rating for the weekend. Five of his six points came in the 7-1 win over the Bulldogs, he assisted on each of Mack Byers' three goals in the game. His four assists were the most in a single game by a CCHA skater this season. (Lucas Wahlin also added four assists in the game).
Look mom, we're on TV
Both games this weekend will be available in the Twin Cities on Fox 9+. Wondering how to watch Fox 9+? Follow this link for channel listings: https://www.fox9.com/plus.
This weekend's matchups will mark the third and fourth time the Tommies will be televised on a Fox channel. The season-opening overtime thriller with St. Cloud State appeared on Fox 9+ and the instant classic at the Xcel Energy Center between the Gophers and Tommies could be seen on Fox 9.
Splitting points with the Bulldogs
It was a second consecutive CCHA split for the Toms, this time it was a game one loss and game two victory against Ferris State. The first game in Big Rapids, Michigan ended 5-2 and the Tommies bounced back in game two with their largest victory of the DI era, 7-1.
The Bulldogs got on the board first Friday night with an opening period goal just three minutes in. They took their 1-0 lead into the locker room despite being outshot 16-8 in the frame. Logan Stein played phenomenally for Ferris, making stops on the first 23 shots he faced. Jake Braccini ended his shutout bid with 52 seconds left in the second period on the power play. The sophomore's goal was too little too late though after FSU piled on for four goals in the frame.
Both sides added another tally in the third period. Lucas Wahlin scored on the power play with 2:02 to go, making it a 5-2 hockey game.
Game two was a much different story for the Purple. They scored three goals in the first period, three in the second, and one in the third.
All three captains scored power play goals in the second period: Luke Manning from Braccini and Ethan Gauer, Lucas Wahlin from Ryan O'Neill, and Grant Docter, and Mack Byers from Wahlin and O'Neill.
Mack Byers found the back of the net three times, once in each period. His hat trick was the first of the DI era for St. Thomas.
Both Ryan O'Neill (1G-4A) and Lucas Wahlin (1G-4A) tallied five points in the contest and the line of O'Neill-Byers-Wahlin contributed five goals and 13 points to the cause. O'Neill was rewarded with his first CCHA Forward of the Week honor for his six-point weekend.
Jacob Sibell shined in net once again. The junior stopped 33 of the 34 shots he faced and secured the fourth win of his season.
Extra special (teams) lately
It was no secret that the Toms struggled on special teams to start the season. They scored just four goals on 49 power play opportunities (8%) in their first 12 games and allowed 13 power play goals on 45 penalty kills (71%) during that same stretch.
Over their last four games the fortunes of the special teams' units have turned around. They have scored six goals on 16 power plays (38%) and have allowed just two power play goals on 15 kills (87%).
Toms and Mavs
Things have been a little one-sided In St. Thomas' short history against Minnesota State over the last two seasons. The Mavericks had won each of the first eight meetings between the two, outscoring the Toms 48-11.
St. Thomas secured their first win last season with a 3-2 overtime victory in Mankato in February, Mack Byers scored the game-winner in the extra frame. Luc Laylin scored the other two goals for the Purple and Aaron Trotter got the win in the crease with 43 saves on 45 shots.
Before the 2022-23 season, the Toms had lost by four or more in their six matchups during year one. The games got much more competitive during year two with two one-goal games and a three-goal contest that included an empty-netter.
This season the Mavericks enter the weekend in third place just four points behind the upstart first place Tommies. The Mavs lost their winningest coach in program history (Mike Hastings .732 win %) and each of their eight top points scorers from 2022-23.
Of their 18 goals scored against the Toms last season, they return players who accounted for just five of those tallies. They do return both of their netminders from a season ago, Alex Tracy and Kennan Rancier. Tracy got one win against St. Thomas last season while Rancier went 2-1 against the Purple.
Way to go Ry-no
Ryan O'Neill recorded six points with one goal and five assists in the Toms' road split with Ferris State. He skated to a +3 rating for the weekend. Five of his six points came in the 7-1 win over the Bulldogs, he assisted on each of Mack Byers' three goals in the game. His four assists were the most in a single game by a CCHA skater this season. (Lucas Wahlin also added four assists in the game).
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
D
/ Men's Hockey
D
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
G
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's HockeyPress Conference: Rico Blasi January 27th 2025
Monday, January 27
St. Thomas Men's Hockey 2023-24 Intro Video
Friday, October 27
Rico Blasi Pre-Season Press Conference, September 26th, 2022
Friday, October 21
Rico Blasi Press Conference October 3rd
Friday, October 21
