University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, March 1
Houghton, Mich. / John J. MacInnes Student Ice Arena
6:07 p.m. Central
at
Michigan Tech
Photo by: Maddie Kranz
Men's Hockey visits Michigan Tech with playoff home ice on the line
2/29/2024 8:09:00 PM | Men's Hockey
The Tommies are tied with the Huskies for third place in the CCHA just one point above Bowling Green.
THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES
ON THE RADIO
FLOHOCKEY.TV
TOMMIE TIDBITS
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
SERIES HISTORY
Michigan Tech got out to a 6-0-1 start against St. Thomas and outscored the Tommies 27-12 in the first seven games. The Tommies have come back for three wins in the last five games, including each of the last two. St. Thomas is on a three-game regular season win streak with both of their most recent losses were one-goal games in the playoffs last season.
TOMMIES AGAINST MICHIGAN TECH THIS SEASON
POINT STREAKS
STAT RANKINGS
SIBELL NAMED ONE OF NATION'S TOP TENDERS
Jake Sibell was named to the semi-finalist list for the Mike Richter Award on Wednesday. Sibell is the first in program history and only this season from the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
The Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) has announced the semifinalists for this year's Mike Richter Award, given annually to the top goalie in men's NCAA Division I hockey since 2014. Ten goaltenders from a "Watch List" of 30 were singled out by a panel of voters across the hockey community.
Sibell is one of two goalies on the list from Minnesota (Ryan Bischel of Notre Dame from Medina, Minn.). He is also one of two from a team within the Land of 10,000 Lakes (Justen Close from the University of Minnesota).
Three finalists will be announced in early March and the winner will be announced in April during the NCAA Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minn.
TOMMIE HAT TRICK
CCHA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
CCHA GOALTENDERS OF THE MONTH
DI SCORING RECORD HOLDERS
FEBRUARY RECAP
JANUARY RECAP
DECEMBER RECAP
NOVEMBER RECAP
OCTOBER RECAP
COACH BLASI
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
NON-CONFERENCE
NHL DEVELOPMENT CAMPS
THE CHASE IS ON
Chase Cheslock was called in from the USHL at the semester break. He notched his first collegiate point against Michigan Tech. The 6-3 defenseman out of Rogers, Minn. played 30 games across two seasons for the Omaha Lancers and added 13 points. He is the Toms' first NHL draftee after his selection by the New Jersey Devils in the fifth round of the 2023 draft. He was a two-year captain at Rogers High School and also wore the "C" in Omaha. Cheslock played one game for the U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP), the second Tommie to do so (Brady Simmons-Fischer also played one game).
NHL DRAFT PICKS
CAPTAINS
TRANSFERS
PRESEASON CCHA COACHES POLL
St. Thomas was picked fifth in the Preseason CCHA Coaches Poll. The Toms did receive one of the eight first place votes. Michigan Tech finished on top with Northern Michigan and Bowling Green rounding out the top-three. Bemidji State finished four votes in front of the Purple. Minnesota State finished with 45 votes, same as St. Thomas. Ferris State and Lake Superior State rounded out the poll. St. Thomas did not earn any individual player preseason coach awards.
PRESEASON CCHA MEDIA POLL
St. Thomas was picked sixth in the Preseason CCHA Media Poll. Michigan Tech was picked first with 11 of the 16 first place votes with Northern Michigan, Bowling Green, and Minnesota State behind all receiving at least one first place vote. Bemidji State finished one place in front of the Purple with Ferris State and Lake Superior State bringing up the rear. St. Thomas did not earn any individual player preseason media awards.
- St. Thomas wraps up its final series of the regular season in the same place its 2022-23 season concluded, Houghton, Michigan
- They matchup with the Michigan Tech Huskies who are tied with them for third place in the CCHA. Each team is just one point above Bowling Green, meaning home ice in the first round of the playoffs is on the line.
- Game one at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena is set for a 7:07 p.m. EST puck drop on Friday night. Game two is scheduled for 6:07 p.m. EST on Saturday.
- The Tommies are 13-17-2 overall and 11-10-1 in the CCHA. The Huskies are 14-13-6 overall and have an 11-9-2 conference record.
- The Tommies have won each of the last three regular season meetings, all of which were in Mendota Heights, Minn.
- St. Thomas is coming off a hard-fought series with the first-place Bemidji State Beavers. The Toms lost 6-5 in overtime in game one and lost in game two 3-1.
ON THE RADIO
- ESPN 1500 is the home of all St. Thomas Men's Hockey games.
- Fans can listen on the radio at 1500 AM, online at https://live.skornorth.com/listen/ or on the Varsity Sports App.
FLOHOCKEY.TV
- All St. Thomas and CCHA games will be live-streamed on FloHockey,tv.
- FloSports provides each subscriber with access to all content and events with the purchase of a monthly or yearly subscription.
- FloSports is available on IOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Chromecast.
TOMMIE TIDBITS
- The Toms are 4-6 in one-goal games this season, the Huskies are 8-3
- The Purple are 11-1-2 when scoring first, their only loss came in game one to Augustana in Sioux Falls
- Cooper Gay's four game-winning goals are tied for the lead in the CCHA – they are also a DI program single season record
- Mack Byers became the second DI Tommie to surpass the 50-point plateau (Luke Manning did it earlier this season) – No player has yet tallied 50 points for St. Thomas alone in the current iteration of the program – Lucas Wahlin (48), Mack Byers (47), and Ryan O'Neill (45) are the closest
- Liam Malmquist is the only DI Tommie with multiple unassisted goals in a single season
- Malmquist will be the 4th Tommie this season to surpass 100 career games played (he currently has 99)
- Lucas Wahlin's 27 points are a single season program record.
- Rico Blasi moved into 23rd all-time against Minnesota State on February 2 with 425 career wins
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
- Overall record (14-13-6, 11-9-2 CCHA), the Huskies currently sit tied for third with the St. Thomas Tommies with 36 CCHA points apiece. They are coming off a commanding sweep of the Bowling Green Falcons and 3-1 over their last two weeks of conference play.
- They are 8-3 in one-goal games
- Freshman Isaac Gordon leads the team with 28 points in 33 games played this season. His +8 rating also leads the Huskies. No player has more than his 15 goals.
- Sophomore Lleyton Roed leads the team in goals (14) and points (28). He is tied for 43rd in the country in goals per game (.46).
- The Huskies are bolstered in net by the reigning CCHA Goaltender and Player of the Year, Blake Pietila. The fifth-year net minder was named this season's CCHA Athlete of the Year and has amassed a 13-11-6 record with a 2.40 goals against average and .918 save percentage.
SERIES HISTORY
Michigan Tech got out to a 6-0-1 start against St. Thomas and outscored the Tommies 27-12 in the first seven games. The Tommies have come back for three wins in the last five games, including each of the last two. St. Thomas is on a three-game regular season win streak with both of their most recent losses were one-goal games in the playoffs last season.
TOMMIES AGAINST MICHIGAN TECH THIS SEASON
- Liam Malmquist 1G-2A-3P
- Grant Docter 0G-3A-3P
- Matthew Gleason 0G-2A-2P
- Jake Braccini 0G-2A-2P
- Ryan O'Neill 0G-2A-2P
- Tim Piechowski 1G-0A-1P
- Luc Laylin 1G-0A-1P
- Mason Poolman 1G-0A-1P
- Lucas Wahlin 1G-0A-1P
- Cooper Gay 1G-0A-1P
- Mack Byers 1G-0A-1P
- Chase Cheslock 0G-1A-1P
- Brady Simmons-Fischer 0G-1A-1P
- Cole Miller 0G-1A-1P
- Aaron Trotter 1-0-0, 3GA, 34SV, .919SV%
- Jake Sibell 1-0-0, 1GA, 27SV, .964SV%
POINT STREAKS
- Lucas Wahlin (2 games)
- Matthew Gleason (3 games)
- Liam Malmquist (2 games)
STAT RANKINGS
- Luke Manning, 304 faceoffs won (38th in NCAA)
- Cooper Gay, 4 game winning goals (T-10th in NCAA)
- Jake Sibell, .538 win percentage (26th in NCAA)
- Jake Sibell, 1.98 goals against average (4th in NCAA)
- Jake Sibell, .930 save percentage (2nd in NCAA)
- Mack Byers, 2 shorthanded goals (T-6th in NCAA)
- St. Thomas, 2.81 scoring defense (T-25th in NCAA)
- St. Thomas, 9.66 PIM/G (17th least in NCAA)
- St. Thomas, 5 shorthanded goals (T-11th in NCAA)
SIBELL NAMED ONE OF NATION'S TOP TENDERS
Jake Sibell was named to the semi-finalist list for the Mike Richter Award on Wednesday. Sibell is the first in program history and only this season from the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
The Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) has announced the semifinalists for this year's Mike Richter Award, given annually to the top goalie in men's NCAA Division I hockey since 2014. Ten goaltenders from a "Watch List" of 30 were singled out by a panel of voters across the hockey community.
Sibell is one of two goalies on the list from Minnesota (Ryan Bischel of Notre Dame from Medina, Minn.). He is also one of two from a team within the Land of 10,000 Lakes (Justen Close from the University of Minnesota).
Three finalists will be announced in early March and the winner will be announced in April during the NCAA Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minn.
TOMMIE HAT TRICK
- Mack Byers scored three goals against Ferris State on Dec. 2 in the 7-1 win on the road
- Byers hat trick was the first (and only) in DI program history
- He is one of 56 players in the NCAA with three goals in a game this season
- Seven others in the CCHA have recorded a hat trick, Michigan Tech leads all CCHA teams with three hat tricks
CCHA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
- Luke Manning Forward of the Week (10/9/23)
- Liam Malmquist Forward of the Week (10/23/23)
- Jake Sibell Goaltender of the Week (10/23/23)
- Lucas Wahlin Forward of the Week (11/6/23)
- Aaron Trotter Goaltender of the Week (11/13/23)
- Ryan O'Neill Forward of the Week (12/4/23)
- Jake Sibell Goaltender of the Week (1/15/24)
- Aaron Trotter Goaltender of the Week (2/5/24)
CCHA GOALTENDERS OF THE MONTH
- October – Jake Sibell
- November – Aaron Trotter
DI SCORING RECORD HOLDERS
- Mack Byers (31), Luke Manning (23), and Luc Laylin (18) round out the top three in DI goals scored
- Lucas Wahlin (48), Mack Byers (47), and Ryan O'Neill (45) make up the top three in DI points
FEBRUARY RECAP
- 1-6-1 record, -7 goal differential
- Secured first season series victory over Minnesota State in program history with a 4-3 overtime loss and 4-2 regulation win
- Lost both of the program's first meetings with future full CCHA member Augustana 4-2 and 2-1 in overtime
- Secured season series win over Bowling Green with 3-3 tie in game one and 3-1 loss in game two at home against the Falcons
- Lost two very tight games to the Bemidji State Beavers 6-5 in overtime and 3-1
- Jake Sibell made the SportsCenter Top Ten Plays for a scorpion kick save against Bowling Green
- Ryan O'Neill led the team with eight points (all assists) and Cooper Gay and Mack Byers each finished with a team-leading four goals
JANUARY RECAP
- 3-1-0 record, +4 goal differential
- First sweep of Michigan Tech in program history (4-3 and 3-1), first win on the road in program history at Northern Michigan (3-1)
- Luc Laylin, Lucas Wahlin, Cooper Gay, and Ryan O'Neill each led the way with two goals
- Liam Malmquist (1G 3A) and O'Neill (2G 2A) each finished the month with four points
- Jake Sibell earned his second CCHA Goaltender of the Week (27 saves on 28 shots faced in win over Michigan Tech)
- Exhibition win against Minnesota Duluth (3-1)
DECEMBER RECAP
- 2-4-0 record, -5 goal differential
- Wins against Ferris State (7-1) and Minnesota State (2-1)
- Mack Byers led with four goals (three in program-first hat trick vs Ferris State)
- Lucas Wahlin and Ryan O'Neill led with seven points apiece
- Ryan O'Neill CCHA Forward of the Week (one goal and five assists against Ferris State)
NOVEMBER RECAP
- 5-1-0 record, +11 goal differential
- Longest win streak of DI era (five games, outscored foes 22-9)
- Sweeps of Northern Michigan and Bowling Green, both firsts in program history
- Split with Lake Superior State
- Mack Byers, Liam Malmquist, Lucas Wahlin, and Cooper Gay led with three goals apiece
- Quinton Pepper, Wahlin, and Malmquist led with seven points apiece
- Lucas Wahlin CCHA Forward of the Week (three goals and an assist vs. Northern Michigan), Aaron Trotter CCHA Goaltender of the Week (42 saves, one goal allowed in win vs Bowling Green)
- Aaron Trotter CCHA Goaltender of the Month (3-0-0 record, 90 saves, five goals allowed, .947 SV%, 1.67 GAA)
OCTOBER RECAP
- 2-5-1 record, -5 goal differential
- Wins against #8 St. Cloud State (5-4 OT) and Lindenwood (3-1)
- Luke Manning, Lucas Wahlin, and Cooper Gay led with three goals apiece
- Wahlin led with seven points (3G 4A)
- Luke Manning CCHA Forward of the Week (1G 2A against St. Cloud State), Liam Malmquist CCHA Forward of the Week (3A vs. Lindenwood, Jake Sibell CCHA Goaltender of the Week (1GA 15SV vs Lindenwood)
- Jake Sibell CCHA Goaltender of the Month (1-2-0 record, 64 saves, four goals allowed, .941 SV%, 1.36 GAA)
COACH BLASI
- Entering third season for St. Thomas
- During his 20-year tenure at Miami (Ohio) Blasi was the head coach of 10 NCAA Tournament teams, one national runner-up and one other Frozen Four team
- National Coach of the Year in 2005-06
- Coached one Hobey Baker Award winner (Andy Miele) and 10 Hobey Baker finalists, 10 All-America players, and 25 who went on to play in the NHL, including Stanley Cup Champions Alec Martinez, Jeff Zatkoff, Blake Coleman, and Riley Smith.
- 425 career wins (23rd all-time / seventh among active head coaches, 29 wins behind Scott Sandelin for sixth)
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
- The Toms conclude their only four-game homestand of the season with CCHA series against first place Bemidji State (13-15-2, 11-7-2) Feb. 23-24
- Final series of the season at Michigan Tech (12-13-6, 9-9-2) Mar. 1-2
NON-CONFERENCE
- The Toms were 2-7-1 outside of the CCHA this season. They split with #8 St. Cloud State to open the season in two one-goal games. Next came two losses against the #2 Golden Gophers (6-5 OT loss at Xcel Energy Center, 3-0 loss at Mariucci) and then a 3-1 win and 4-4 tie against Lindenwood. After 12 conference games the Toms returned to out of conference competition with two defeats in Vermont. They completed their non-con schedule with back-to-back defeats in Sioux Falls against the Augustana Vikings (4-2, 2-1 OT).
- St. Thomas has a -12 goal differential in 10 non-con games.
- The Tommies played four games against ranked non-con opponents, they were 1-3-0 with two one-goal losses.
- 1-1-1 home record, 1-5-0 away record, 0-1-0 neutral site record
NHL DEVELOPMENT CAMPS
- Chase Cheslock (New Jersey Devils)
- Ryder Donovan (Vegas Golden Knights)
- Aaron Trotter (Washington Capitals)
THE CHASE IS ON
Chase Cheslock was called in from the USHL at the semester break. He notched his first collegiate point against Michigan Tech. The 6-3 defenseman out of Rogers, Minn. played 30 games across two seasons for the Omaha Lancers and added 13 points. He is the Toms' first NHL draftee after his selection by the New Jersey Devils in the fifth round of the 2023 draft. He was a two-year captain at Rogers High School and also wore the "C" in Omaha. Cheslock played one game for the U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP), the second Tommie to do so (Brady Simmons-Fischer also played one game).
NHL DRAFT PICKS
- Ryder Donovan was selected as the 110th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL Draft by the Vegas Golden Knights.
- Chase Cheslock was selected as the 154th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils and is the Tommies first "homegrown" draft pick.
CAPTAINS
- Sophomore Lucas Wahlin wears the "C" for coach Rico Blasi's squad. Wahlin, a Woodbury, Minn. native, finished with 21 points in 26 games last season while battling injury. He played for three teams over three seasons in both the NAHL and USHL before finding a home in St. Paul.
- Seniors Luke Manning and Mack Byers don the "A" this season. Both are one-time transfers, Manning from Air Force and Byers from Northern Michigan. Manning played nine games for the D-III Tommies and has 38 points in two-plus seasons for the D-I Toms. Byers led the team with 26 points in his first season with the Purple last year.
- All three captains are from Minnesota.
TRANSFERS
- James Marooney played at Ohio State for four seasons. The defenseman played 80 games for the Buckeyes in four seasons and added five points in 26 games last year for the third-place Big Ten team.
- Matthew Gleason appeared in 70 games for Colorado College over two full seasons before joining the Tommies. He was a two-time member of the All-Academic team in the NCHC.
- Jake Ratzlaff played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers before a brief stint with the Madison Capitols last year. He was a highly touted hockey recruit coming out of high school but opted to play on the gridiron.
- Noah Prokop is a two-time transfer. He played two seasons in Omaha before making the change to play with Gleason at Colorado College. He is a four-time All-Academic team selection.
- Liam Malmquist is also a transfer from Wisconsin, but he played two seasons of college hockey. He tallied 16 points in 68 games for the Badgers and was a selection to the Big Ten All-Academic team.
- Ryder Donovan played with Malmquist in Madison. The Duluth, Minn. native was drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. He played 89 games for the Badgers and took a break from hockey for the 2022-23 season before returning with the Tommies.
- Jake Sibell transferred from the Purple Eagles of Niagara University. Over two seasons in New York he played in 13 games with a 2-7-1 record.
- All but one of the Toms' seven transfers (Noah Prokop from Highlands Ranch, Colo.) is a native of Minnesota.
PRESEASON CCHA COACHES POLL
St. Thomas was picked fifth in the Preseason CCHA Coaches Poll. The Toms did receive one of the eight first place votes. Michigan Tech finished on top with Northern Michigan and Bowling Green rounding out the top-three. Bemidji State finished four votes in front of the Purple. Minnesota State finished with 45 votes, same as St. Thomas. Ferris State and Lake Superior State rounded out the poll. St. Thomas did not earn any individual player preseason coach awards.
PRESEASON CCHA MEDIA POLL
St. Thomas was picked sixth in the Preseason CCHA Media Poll. Michigan Tech was picked first with 11 of the 16 first place votes with Northern Michigan, Bowling Green, and Minnesota State behind all receiving at least one first place vote. Bemidji State finished one place in front of the Purple with Ferris State and Lake Superior State bringing up the rear. St. Thomas did not earn any individual player preseason media awards.
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/ 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
