University of St. Thomas Athletics

Photo by: Maddie Kranz
Men’s Hockey runs unbeaten streak to seven games
1/25/2025 11:16:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Late game heroics from Matthew Gleason and Aaron Trotter pushed the Toms to a 3-2 victory
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. – The University of St. Thomas Men's Hockey team (10-10-5 overall, 7-6-4 CCHA) is now back to .500 with a goal differential of 0 through 25 games after a 3-2 win against Bemidji State (8-13-4 overall, 5-9-3 CCHA). The Tommies are unbeaten in their last seven and have won seven of their last nine games.
Matthew Gleason recorded the game-winning goal in the final three minutes of regulation from Mason Poolman. Ryan O'Neill scored in the first period from Luc Laylin and Jake Braccini scored his fifth goal of January from Chase Cheslock and Laylin in the second. Aaron Trotter stood tall in net with 27 saves on 29 shots for his sixth win of the season.
Recap
The Tommies got on the board early with a goal in the game's first three minutes. Luc Laylin stepped into the face-off circle on the left dot and won the puck from a Bemidji State center-man to Ryan O'Neill. The Tommie junior sliced his way through the slot and toe-dragged his stick to create a deceptive release and beat the Bemidji net-minder. It was his fourth goal of the season and Laylin's fifth assist.
Bemidji State answered at 10:38 but the goal was disallowed after a St. Thomas-initiated video review revealed the play was offside. That reversed call only delayed the inevitable as the Beavers would score at 14:10 on the power play to tie the contest.
Similarly to the first period, the Tommies jumped into action as soon as the puck dropped in the second with a power play goal at 1:29. Laylin teamed up with Chase Cheslock and Jake Braccini this time, and worked the puck from the circle to the point and to the other side of the ice. Braccini ripped a shot from the left circle and past the Beaver goaltender. It was Braccini's sixth goal of the season and fifth this month. Cheslock and Laylin each recorded their 10th point on the play.
The Beavers answered once again at 9:38.
It took the Tommies until 17:34 in the third period to regain the lead, and it came in the final five seconds of a five-minute major penalty power play. Mason Poolman kept the puck in the zone by pinching his entire frame to the near-side boards. After a couple of strides forward, the sophomore flung the puck towards the net and Matthew Gleason deflected it into the goal for the game-winner. It was Gleason's ninth goal of the season and Poolman's 10th point.
Aaron Trotter was tremendous in goal with 27 saves on 29 shots faced, he is 42 saves shy of 2000 for his career. The junior has not lost in net since allowing two goals on 32 shots against St. Cloud on 12/29.
The Beavers outshot the Tommies 30-29 and won 37 faceoffs to the Tommies' 28. St. Thomas was 2-7 on the power play and 3-4 on the penalty kill.
Up Next
The Tommies look to finish off their first sweep of Bemidji State in program history tomorrow at 3:07 p.m. at Saint Thomas Ice Arena. Following the game will be the annual "Skate with the Tommies" event.
Matthew Gleason recorded the game-winning goal in the final three minutes of regulation from Mason Poolman. Ryan O'Neill scored in the first period from Luc Laylin and Jake Braccini scored his fifth goal of January from Chase Cheslock and Laylin in the second. Aaron Trotter stood tall in net with 27 saves on 29 shots for his sixth win of the season.
Recap
The Tommies got on the board early with a goal in the game's first three minutes. Luc Laylin stepped into the face-off circle on the left dot and won the puck from a Bemidji State center-man to Ryan O'Neill. The Tommie junior sliced his way through the slot and toe-dragged his stick to create a deceptive release and beat the Bemidji net-minder. It was his fourth goal of the season and Laylin's fifth assist.
Bemidji State answered at 10:38 but the goal was disallowed after a St. Thomas-initiated video review revealed the play was offside. That reversed call only delayed the inevitable as the Beavers would score at 14:10 on the power play to tie the contest.
Similarly to the first period, the Tommies jumped into action as soon as the puck dropped in the second with a power play goal at 1:29. Laylin teamed up with Chase Cheslock and Jake Braccini this time, and worked the puck from the circle to the point and to the other side of the ice. Braccini ripped a shot from the left circle and past the Beaver goaltender. It was Braccini's sixth goal of the season and fifth this month. Cheslock and Laylin each recorded their 10th point on the play.
The Beavers answered once again at 9:38.
It took the Tommies until 17:34 in the third period to regain the lead, and it came in the final five seconds of a five-minute major penalty power play. Mason Poolman kept the puck in the zone by pinching his entire frame to the near-side boards. After a couple of strides forward, the sophomore flung the puck towards the net and Matthew Gleason deflected it into the goal for the game-winner. It was Gleason's ninth goal of the season and Poolman's 10th point.
Aaron Trotter was tremendous in goal with 27 saves on 29 shots faced, he is 42 saves shy of 2000 for his career. The junior has not lost in net since allowing two goals on 32 shots against St. Cloud on 12/29.
The Beavers outshot the Tommies 30-29 and won 37 faceoffs to the Tommies' 28. St. Thomas was 2-7 on the power play and 3-4 on the penalty kill.
Up Next
The Tommies look to finish off their first sweep of Bemidji State in program history tomorrow at 3:07 p.m. at Saint Thomas Ice Arena. Following the game will be the annual "Skate with the Tommies" event.
Team Stats
BSU
UST
Shots
29
29
PPG
1
2
SHG
0
0
Penalties
8
4
Penalty Mins
27
8
Faceoffs Won
37
28
Game Leaders
Skaters
Players Mentioned
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