University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saturday, October 4
St. Cloud, Minn. / Herb Brooks National Hockey Center
6:07 p.m. CST
at
St. Cloud State
Men’s Hockey opens season at St. Cloud State
10/3/2025 6:55:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Fifth consecutive season-opener between the Tommies and Huskies.
St. Paul, Minn. – St. Thomas Men's Hockey begins a monumental season under the mentorship of head coach, Rico Blasi. 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. They also enter the season nationally ranked #19 in the USCHO Poll for the first time.
On tap first, the Huskies of St. Cloud State on Saturday, October 4th at 6:07 p.m. at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.
THIS WEEKEND'S GAME
-#19 St. Thomas Men's Hockey (19-14-5 in 2024-25) will start its 2025-26 campaign about 75 minutes away from St. Paul, in St. Cloud, in a battle against the Huskies (14-21-1 in 2024-25).
-The Tommies wrapped up last season as one of the hottest teams in college hockey with a 15-4-1 record during the 2025 calendar year but fell short by one game with a 4-2 loss in the CCHA Mason Cup Final on the road against Minnesota State.
-St. Cloud State had a down season, taking eighth place of the nine NCHC teams in conference play. The Huskies won 14 overall and earned a -31-goal differential in 36 games. Their season ended with a pair of 6-2 losses in the first round of the conference playoffs to the national champion Western Michigan Broncos.
-The Huskies have owned the all-time series (DI era), with a 7-1-0 record against the Purple. They have won three in a row by scores of 1-0, 1-0, and 2-1 after dropping their only game in the series to kick-off the 2024-25 season. The Toms took that one 5-4 in overtime in front of thousands of stunned SCSU fans. Each of the last four games have been decided by one goal between the two programs.
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.
OH, HOW THE TURNTABLES
-For the first time in the series' short history, the Tommies come into the contest in the USCHO Preseason Poll.
-Also, for the first time, the Huskies come into the contest unranked in the USCHO Preason Poll.
-The Huskies were ranked #2 in 2021-22, #13 in 2022-23, #8 in 2023-24, and #16 in 2024-25.
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 were picked to finish in first place in the CCHA coaches' poll for the second consecutive season earlier this 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.
SERIES HISTORY
-The Huskies have taken all but one game in the all-time series with the Tommies. They are 7-1, currently on a three-game win streak. They have won each of the last three by one goal margins.
-They won last season's contests 1-0 and 2-1. Cooper Gay scored the only goal for the Tommies from this year's assistant captain, Chase Cheslock.
-Returner, Aaron Trotter, got the call in the 2-1 defeat. The then junior stopped 28 of the 30 pucks he faced.
-St. Thomas was 0-7 on the power play and 3-3 on the penalty kill against the Huskies last season. There was not one power play goal scored between the two sides last season.
CURRENT TOMMIES AGAINST ST. CLOUD STATE
-Carson Peters – 1G-0A-1P
-Jake Braccini – 1G-0A-1P
-Chase Cheslock – 0G-1A-1P
-Ryan O'Neill – 0G-1A-1P
-Mason Poolman – 0G-1A-1P
-Luc Laylin – 0G-1A-1P
-Charlie Schoen – 0G-1A-1P (with Arizona State)
-Aaron Trotter – 1-3-0, 99 saves, 10 GA, 2.65GAA, .908SV%
STREAKING
-Lucas Wahlin is currently riding a nine-game point streak dating back to 2/8 of last season, he has seven goals and eight assists for 15 points.
A NATIONAL NAME
-Lucas Wahlin is third in career points in the NCAA among active players. His 92 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 career goals are ninth-most among active players.
-His 57 assists are fourth.
-Aaron Trotter's 78 career games in goal are fifth most in the country.
-Trotter's 26 career wins are tied for 10th.
LOTS OF EXPERIENCE
-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 have amassed:
On tap first, the Huskies of St. Cloud State on Saturday, October 4th at 6:07 p.m. at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.
THIS WEEKEND'S GAME
-#19 St. Thomas Men's Hockey (19-14-5 in 2024-25) will start its 2025-26 campaign about 75 minutes away from St. Paul, in St. Cloud, in a battle against the Huskies (14-21-1 in 2024-25).
-The Tommies wrapped up last season as one of the hottest teams in college hockey with a 15-4-1 record during the 2025 calendar year but fell short by one game with a 4-2 loss in the CCHA Mason Cup Final on the road against Minnesota State.
-St. Cloud State had a down season, taking eighth place of the nine NCHC teams in conference play. The Huskies won 14 overall and earned a -31-goal differential in 36 games. Their season ended with a pair of 6-2 losses in the first round of the conference playoffs to the national champion Western Michigan Broncos.
-The Huskies have owned the all-time series (DI era), with a 7-1-0 record against the Purple. They have won three in a row by scores of 1-0, 1-0, and 2-1 after dropping their only game in the series to kick-off the 2024-25 season. The Toms took that one 5-4 in overtime in front of thousands of stunned SCSU fans. Each of the last four games have been decided by one goal between the two programs.
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.
OH, HOW THE TURNTABLES
-For the first time in the series' short history, the Tommies come into the contest in the USCHO Preseason Poll.
-Also, for the first time, the Huskies come into the contest unranked in the USCHO Preason Poll.
-The Huskies were ranked #2 in 2021-22, #13 in 2022-23, #8 in 2023-24, and #16 in 2024-25.
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 were picked to finish in first place in the CCHA coaches' poll for the second consecutive season earlier this 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.
SERIES HISTORY
-The Huskies have taken all but one game in the all-time series with the Tommies. They are 7-1, currently on a three-game win streak. They have won each of the last three by one goal margins.
-They won last season's contests 1-0 and 2-1. Cooper Gay scored the only goal for the Tommies from this year's assistant captain, Chase Cheslock.
-Returner, Aaron Trotter, got the call in the 2-1 defeat. The then junior stopped 28 of the 30 pucks he faced.
-St. Thomas was 0-7 on the power play and 3-3 on the penalty kill against the Huskies last season. There was not one power play goal scored between the two sides last season.
CURRENT TOMMIES AGAINST ST. CLOUD STATE
-Carson Peters – 1G-0A-1P
-Jake Braccini – 1G-0A-1P
-Chase Cheslock – 0G-1A-1P
-Ryan O'Neill – 0G-1A-1P
-Mason Poolman – 0G-1A-1P
-Luc Laylin – 0G-1A-1P
-Charlie Schoen – 0G-1A-1P (with Arizona State)
-Aaron Trotter – 1-3-0, 99 saves, 10 GA, 2.65GAA, .908SV%
STREAKING
-Lucas Wahlin is currently riding a nine-game point streak dating back to 2/8 of last season, he has seven goals and eight assists for 15 points.
A NATIONAL NAME
-Lucas Wahlin is third in career points in the NCAA among active players. His 92 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 career goals are ninth-most among active players.
-His 57 assists are fourth.
-Aaron Trotter's 78 career games in goal are fifth most in the country.
-Trotter's 26 career wins are tied for 10th.
LOTS OF EXPERIENCE
-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 have amassed:
- 779 games
- 118 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
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Rico Blasi Pre-Season Press Conference, September 26th, 2022
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Rico Blasi Press Conference October 3rd
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