University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saturday, January 6
Mendota Heights, Minn.
4:07 p.m. Central
3
vs
1
Minnesota Duluth (Exhib.)
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
G
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
Photo by: Kylie Macziewski
Men’s Hockey secures the victory in weekend exhibition against Minnesota Duluth
1/6/2024 8:11:00 PM | Men's Hockey
The Tommies start the new year on a winning note with a 3-1 victory on home ice.
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. – Head Coach Rico Blasi's team left their last series with Vermont behind in 2023 by getting back to their winning ways in an exhibition game with in-state foe Minnesota Duluth on Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd at the Saint Thomas Ice Arena.
RECAP
The first twenty minutes of 2024 flew by with just a few whistles in the opening period. Neither team scored in the frame despite 10 shots on goal for the Bulldogs and seven for the Tommies.
Deadlocked without a goal just under 10 minutes into the second period, both teams decided to change their goaltenders. The Tommies pulled Aaron Trotter for Jacob Sibell and Duluth pulled their season-long starter Matt Thiessen for Zach Sandy, who had not played a game this season.
It took just 42 seconds for the Tommies to best the new netminder. Liam Malmquist sent a rebounding Lucas Wahlin shot through Sandy's five-hole to put the Purple in front. It was the only scoring play of the second period.
After five minutes of scoreless hockey to begin the final period, Ryan O'Neill scored after turning the Bulldogs over in the neutral zone. Had this game counted in the season stats it would have been his fifth goal and 10thpoint in his last nine games. The Bulldogs cut the Toms' celebration short with a goal 13 seconds later to halve the lead.
The flurry of goals continued when Luke Manning sniped one through on the power play for the third goal in two minutes of play. Manning's goal was the final score of the exhibition.
Aaron Trotter made 12 saves without allowing a goal and Jacob Sibell surrendered just one goal on the 18 shots he faced during the back half of the contest. The Toms controlled the action for much of the game, outshooting Duluth 33 to 30 and dominating in the face-off circle 37 to 17.
UP NEXT
The Tommies return to true competition this Thursday and Saturday against CCHA rival, Michigan Tech on home ice.
RECAP
The first twenty minutes of 2024 flew by with just a few whistles in the opening period. Neither team scored in the frame despite 10 shots on goal for the Bulldogs and seven for the Tommies.
Deadlocked without a goal just under 10 minutes into the second period, both teams decided to change their goaltenders. The Tommies pulled Aaron Trotter for Jacob Sibell and Duluth pulled their season-long starter Matt Thiessen for Zach Sandy, who had not played a game this season.
It took just 42 seconds for the Tommies to best the new netminder. Liam Malmquist sent a rebounding Lucas Wahlin shot through Sandy's five-hole to put the Purple in front. It was the only scoring play of the second period.
After five minutes of scoreless hockey to begin the final period, Ryan O'Neill scored after turning the Bulldogs over in the neutral zone. Had this game counted in the season stats it would have been his fifth goal and 10thpoint in his last nine games. The Bulldogs cut the Toms' celebration short with a goal 13 seconds later to halve the lead.
The flurry of goals continued when Luke Manning sniped one through on the power play for the third goal in two minutes of play. Manning's goal was the final score of the exhibition.
Aaron Trotter made 12 saves without allowing a goal and Jacob Sibell surrendered just one goal on the 18 shots he faced during the back half of the contest. The Toms controlled the action for much of the game, outshooting Duluth 33 to 30 and dominating in the face-off circle 37 to 17.
UP NEXT
The Tommies return to true competition this Thursday and Saturday against CCHA rival, Michigan Tech on home ice.
Press 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
