University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, October 17
USAFA, Colo. / Cadet Ice Arena
8:05 p.m. CST
at
Air Force
Photo by: Kylie Macziewski
Men’s Hockey looking for a bounce back at Air Force
10/16/2025 1:43:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Tommies head to Colorado for a pair against the Falcons
St. Paul, Minn. – St. Thomas Men's Hockey (1-2-0) is set to match up with the Falcons of Air Force Academy (0-1-1) for the first time in DI program history. The Tommies are fresh off a pair of losses against #10 North Dakota and are looking to get back in the win column. The Falcons have yet to win a game with a tie (and shootout loss) against Denver and a 4-2 loss against Colorado.
The Tommies fell out of the USCHO.com poll for the first time this season after being ranked #19 for the opening two weeks of the season. They are second among teams still receiving votes this week.
St. Thomas Men's Hockey's monumental season under the mentorship of head coach, Rico Blasi is underway. The Tommies are NCAA tournament eligible for the first time in program history and are primed to open the state-of-the-art Lee & Penny Anderson Arena on October 24th against #14 Providence at 7:07 p.m.
THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES
-The Tommies and Falcons go to battle for the first time in DI program history on Friday, October 17th at 8:05 p.m. CST and Saturday, October 18th at 9:05 p.m. CST at Cadet Ice Arena at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. The Falcons finished out 2024-25 with a 16-21-3 record in 7th place with a 11-13-2 AHA record.
-St. Thomas lost both ends of its home-and-home against the Fighting Hawks last weekend. First, a 6-2 defeat in the Toms' first trip to Ralph Engelstad arena on Friday, and then a 5-2 loss at Grand Casino Arena on Sunday. Lucas Wahlin scored a goal in each game, he has one in all three games this season. Carsen Musser got the start in both games but was relieved by Aaron Trotter partway through game one, the first and only appearance from Trotter in 2025-26.
-The Falcons scored first in their tie against national powerhouse Denver on October 10th last weekend but allowed the tying tally with under five minutes to go in regulation. Goaltender, Carter Clafton, made 58 saves in net, an AHA record. They coughed up a 2-1 lead on Saturday against Colorado after goals from Will Staring and Cole Christian in the second period. They allowed a trio of goals (including an ENG) in the third frame to fall, 4-2.
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.
CCHA TV ON MIDCO SPORTS PLUS
-All St. Thomas home games and CCHA games will be live-streamed on Midco Sports Plus.
-Midco Sports Plus provides each subscriber with access to all content and events with the purchase of a monthly or yearly subscription.
-Midco Sports Plus is available on IOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Chromecast.
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE YOUR FIRST TIME
-Alex Gaffney scored his first goal in Tommie purple last Friday against UND, he currently leads the Tommies with four points.
-Lucas Van Vliet added his first collegiate point on Friday and then followed it up with his second assist of the season on Sunday.
-Ryan O'Neill scored his first goal of the season in his first game of the season on Sunday.
-Dylan Godbout assisted on O'Neill's goal for his first Tommie point.
LUCAS HIM GO
-Lucas Wahlin is currently riding a 12-game point streak dating back to 2/8 of last season, he has 10 goals and eight assists for 18 points.
-He is five points shy of 100 career points; he would be the first Tommie to 100 points in DI program history. Liam Malmquist finished with 72 points in purple and the two closest active Tommies are Ryan O'Neill (68) and Jake Braccini (47).
GOING STREAKING
-Lucas Wahlin – 12 game point streak (three game goal streak)
-Lucas Van Vliet – two game point streak
-Alex Gaffney – three game point streak
-Career Games Played
-Chase Cheslock Defenseman of the Week (10/6/25)
OCTOBER RECAP
-1-2-0, -6 goal differential
-Won the first game of the season over St. Cloud State on the road, Nathan Pilling scored the game winning goal.
-Dropped a pair to North Dakota, 6-2 and 5-2.
-Alex Gaffney leads the Tommies with four points (1G-3A) in October, Lucas Wahlin leads the way with three goals.
-Carsen Musser is 1-2-0 with a 5.00 GAA and .829 SV%.
-The Toms are 3-13 on the power play and 4-9 on the penalty kill.
DI SCORING RECORD HOLDERS
-Lucas Wahlin (38), Cooper Gay (35, 2022-25), and Mack Byers (31, 2022-24) round out the top three in DI goals scored.
-Bauer Berry (Edmonton Oilers)
-Chase Cheslock (New Jersey Devils)
-Carsen Musser (Utah Mammoth)
-Nathan Pilling (Ottawa Senators)
-Lucas Van Vliet (Vegas Golden Knights)
-Lucas Wahlin (Colorado Avalanche)
NHL DRAFT PICKS
-Bauer Berry was selected as the 218th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL draft by the Edmonton Oilers.
-Chase Cheslock was selected as the 154th overall pick of the 2023 NHL draft by the New Jersey Devils and was the first drafted Tommie to commit to the program out of high school.
-Carsen Musser was selected as the 166th overall pick of the 2023 NHL draft by the Utah Mammoth.
-Lucas Van Vliet was selected as the 197th overall pick of the 2024 NHL draft by the Vegas Golden Knights.
IN GOOD COMPANY
-Lucas Wahlin entered the season third in career points in the NCAA among active players. His 92 (now 95) put him above all members of the CCHA and behind only Jeremy Wilmer of Quinnipiac (109) and T.J. Hughes of Michigan (122).
-Wahlin's 35 (now 38) career goals were ninth-most among active players.
-His 57 assists were fourth.
-Aaron Trotter's 78 career games in goal were fifth most in the country.
-Trotter's 26 career wins were tied for 10th.
PRESEASON PUB
-The Tommies were picked to finish in first place in the CCHA coaches' poll for the second consecutive season earlier in September.
-They were also selected second in the media poll for the second year in a row.
-Lucas Wahlin was once again named Preseason Player of the Year by the coaches after his 17-24—41 point season last year. The now senior was selected as team captain for the third-year running last week.
-Newcomer, Nathan Pilling, was named Preseason Rookie of the Year by the conference coaches. He skated in 218 total games across four seasons in the WHL for the Moose Jaw Warriors, Edmonton Oil Kings, and Seattle Thunderbirds… scored 70 career goals, added 56 career assists, and tallied 126 total points in the WHL… coming off a career-best season as assistant captain with the Thunderbirds with 37 goals, 30 assists, and 67 points in 67 games in 2024-25.
COACH BLASI
-Entering fifth season for St. Thomas
-During his 20-year tenure at Miami, 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 Alex Martinez, Jeff Zatkoff, Blake Coleman, and Riley Smith.
NICE TO MEET YA
St. Thomas returned just 13 players from its breakthrough 2024-25 squad. The Tommies welcome in 15 newcomers into the fold, 10 freshman and five transfers.
-Freshmen
-The Tommies are tied for the eighth most seniors in the country with eight.
-Between those eight seniors (Lucas Wahlin, Caige Sterzer, Ryan O'Neill, Quinton Pepper, Luc Laylin, Jake Braccini, Carson Peters, Aaron Trotter) they had amassed:
The Tommies fell out of the USCHO.com poll for the first time this season after being ranked #19 for the opening two weeks of the season. They are second among teams still receiving votes this week.
St. Thomas Men's Hockey's monumental season under the mentorship of head coach, Rico Blasi is underway. The Tommies are NCAA tournament eligible for the first time in program history and are primed to open the state-of-the-art Lee & Penny Anderson Arena on October 24th against #14 Providence at 7:07 p.m.
THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES
-The Tommies and Falcons go to battle for the first time in DI program history on Friday, October 17th at 8:05 p.m. CST and Saturday, October 18th at 9:05 p.m. CST at Cadet Ice Arena at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. The Falcons finished out 2024-25 with a 16-21-3 record in 7th place with a 11-13-2 AHA record.
-St. Thomas lost both ends of its home-and-home against the Fighting Hawks last weekend. First, a 6-2 defeat in the Toms' first trip to Ralph Engelstad arena on Friday, and then a 5-2 loss at Grand Casino Arena on Sunday. Lucas Wahlin scored a goal in each game, he has one in all three games this season. Carsen Musser got the start in both games but was relieved by Aaron Trotter partway through game one, the first and only appearance from Trotter in 2025-26.
-The Falcons scored first in their tie against national powerhouse Denver on October 10th last weekend but allowed the tying tally with under five minutes to go in regulation. Goaltender, Carter Clafton, made 58 saves in net, an AHA record. They coughed up a 2-1 lead on Saturday against Colorado after goals from Will Staring and Cole Christian in the second period. They allowed a trio of goals (including an ENG) in the third frame to fall, 4-2.
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.
CCHA TV ON MIDCO SPORTS PLUS
-All St. Thomas home games and CCHA games will be live-streamed on Midco Sports Plus.
-Midco Sports Plus provides each subscriber with access to all content and events with the purchase of a monthly or yearly subscription.
-Midco Sports Plus is available on IOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Chromecast.
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE YOUR FIRST TIME
-Alex Gaffney scored his first goal in Tommie purple last Friday against UND, he currently leads the Tommies with four points.
-Lucas Van Vliet added his first collegiate point on Friday and then followed it up with his second assist of the season on Sunday.
-Ryan O'Neill scored his first goal of the season in his first game of the season on Sunday.
-Dylan Godbout assisted on O'Neill's goal for his first Tommie point.
LUCAS HIM GO
-Lucas Wahlin is currently riding a 12-game point streak dating back to 2/8 of last season, he has 10 goals and eight assists for 18 points.
-He is five points shy of 100 career points; he would be the first Tommie to 100 points in DI program history. Liam Malmquist finished with 72 points in purple and the two closest active Tommies are Ryan O'Neill (68) and Jake Braccini (47).
GOING STREAKING
-Lucas Wahlin – 12 game point streak (three game goal streak)
-Lucas Van Vliet – two game point streak
-Alex Gaffney – three game point streak
- All three players have played on the same line during every game this season.
-Career Games Played
- Quinton Pepper is 1 away from 100
- Carson Peters and Jake Braccini are 4 away from 100
- Lucas Wahlin is 5 away from 100
- Jake Braccini is 3 away from 50
- Luc Laylin is 4 away from 50
-Chase Cheslock Defenseman of the Week (10/6/25)
OCTOBER RECAP
-1-2-0, -6 goal differential
-Won the first game of the season over St. Cloud State on the road, Nathan Pilling scored the game winning goal.
-Dropped a pair to North Dakota, 6-2 and 5-2.
-Alex Gaffney leads the Tommies with four points (1G-3A) in October, Lucas Wahlin leads the way with three goals.
-Carsen Musser is 1-2-0 with a 5.00 GAA and .829 SV%.
-The Toms are 3-13 on the power play and 4-9 on the penalty kill.
DI SCORING RECORD HOLDERS
-Lucas Wahlin (38), Cooper Gay (35, 2022-25), and Mack Byers (31, 2022-24) round out the top three in DI goals scored.
- Wahlin has scored one goal in each of the first three games this season, he finished last year with a career-high, 17.
- Wahlin has three points this season, one from each of the first three games.
- O'Neill scored his first goal of the season in his first game last Sunday against the Fighting Hawks.
-Bauer Berry (Edmonton Oilers)
-Chase Cheslock (New Jersey Devils)
-Carsen Musser (Utah Mammoth)
-Nathan Pilling (Ottawa Senators)
-Lucas Van Vliet (Vegas Golden Knights)
-Lucas Wahlin (Colorado Avalanche)
NHL DRAFT PICKS
-Bauer Berry was selected as the 218th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL draft by the Edmonton Oilers.
-Chase Cheslock was selected as the 154th overall pick of the 2023 NHL draft by the New Jersey Devils and was the first drafted Tommie to commit to the program out of high school.
-Carsen Musser was selected as the 166th overall pick of the 2023 NHL draft by the Utah Mammoth.
-Lucas Van Vliet was selected as the 197th overall pick of the 2024 NHL draft by the Vegas Golden Knights.
IN GOOD COMPANY
-Lucas Wahlin entered the season third in career points in the NCAA among active players. His 92 (now 95) put him above all members of the CCHA and behind only Jeremy Wilmer of Quinnipiac (109) and T.J. Hughes of Michigan (122).
-Wahlin's 35 (now 38) career goals were ninth-most among active players.
-His 57 assists were fourth.
-Aaron Trotter's 78 career games in goal were fifth most in the country.
-Trotter's 26 career wins were tied for 10th.
PRESEASON PUB
-The Tommies were picked to finish in first place in the CCHA coaches' poll for the second consecutive season earlier in September.
-They were also selected second in the media poll for the second year in a row.
-Lucas Wahlin was once again named Preseason Player of the Year by the coaches after his 17-24—41 point season last year. The now senior was selected as team captain for the third-year running last week.
-Newcomer, Nathan Pilling, was named Preseason Rookie of the Year by the conference coaches. He skated in 218 total games across four seasons in the WHL for the Moose Jaw Warriors, Edmonton Oil Kings, and Seattle Thunderbirds… scored 70 career goals, added 56 career assists, and tallied 126 total points in the WHL… coming off a career-best season as assistant captain with the Thunderbirds with 37 goals, 30 assists, and 67 points in 67 games in 2024-25.
COACH BLASI
-Entering fifth season for St. Thomas
-During his 20-year tenure at Miami, 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 Alex Martinez, Jeff Zatkoff, Blake Coleman, and Riley Smith.
NICE TO MEET YA
St. Thomas returned just 13 players from its breakthrough 2024-25 squad. The Tommies welcome in 15 newcomers into the fold, 10 freshman and five transfers.
-Freshmen
- Bauer Berry | 6-4 | Defenseman | Grand Forks, N.D. | Muskegon (USHL)
- Josh Giuliani | 6-1 | Forward | Plymouth, Minn. | Dubuque (USHL)
- Hayes Hundley | 6-3 | Defenseman | Upper Arlington, Ohio | Fargo (USHL)
- Will Ingemann | 5-11 | Goaltender | Plymouth, Minn. | Penticton (BCHL)
- Colton Jamieson | 6-0 | Defenseman | Hudson, Wis. | Madison (USHL)
- Attila Lippai | 5-9 | Forward | St. Paul, Minn. | Tri-City (USHL)
- Nathan Pilling | 6-4 | Forward | Calgary, Alta. | Seattle (WHL)
- Sam Ranallo | 5-10 | Forward | Rogers, Minn. | Cranbrook (BCHL)
- Luke Schelter | 6-2 | Forward | Centennial, Colo. | Fargo (USHL)
- Lucas Van Vliet | 6-2 | Forward | Livonia, Mich. | Dubuque (USHL)
- Alex Gaffney | 5-9 | Forward | West Orange, N.J. | Harvard (NCAA)
- Dylan Godbout | 5-11 | Forward | Woodbury, Minn. | Ohio State (NCAA)
- Carsen Musser | 6-4 | Goaltender | Fairmont, Minn. | Colorado (NCAA)
- Charlie Schoen | 5-10 | Forward | Andover, Minn. | Arizona State (NCAA)
- Nick Williams | 5-9 | Defenseman | Edina, Minn, | Michigan Tech (NCAA)
-The Tommies are tied for the eighth most seniors in the country with eight.
-Between those eight seniors (Lucas Wahlin, Caige Sterzer, Ryan O'Neill, Quinton Pepper, Luc Laylin, Jake Braccini, Carson Peters, Aaron Trotter) they had amassed:
- 783 games
- 120 goals
- 210 assists
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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
