University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, October 10
Grand Forks, N.D. / Ralph Engelstad Arena
7:07 p.m. CST
at
North Dakota
Photo by: Kylie Macziewski
Men’s Hockey meets future NCHC foe for the first time
10/9/2025 7:20:00 PM | Men's Hockey
The Tommies play the North Dakota Fighting Hawks in a weekend home-and-home
St. Paul, Minn. – Fresh off a season-opening victory over St. Cloud State, the St. Thomas Men's Hockey team (1-0-0) will square off with perennial powerhouse, North Dakota (0-0-0) this weekend. First, on the road in Grand Forks at Ralph Engelstad Arena, Friday at 7:07 p.m. and then on Sunday at 5:07 p.m. at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.
The Tommies come into the weekend ranked 19th in the USCHO.com poll, their highest in program history. The Fighting Hawks come in ranked 10th. The Toms only have one Top 10 ranked win during the first four seasons in DI (10/7/23 at #7 St. Cloud State).
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.
THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES
-The Tommies and Fighting Hawks match up for the first time in program history on Friday, October 10 at 7:07 p.m. at Ralph Engelstad Arena. The game is the season opener for North Dakota, a team that finished 21-15-2 last season.
-Game two of the home-and-home will take place at Grand Casino Arena on Sunday at 5:07 p.m. It will be the first college hockey game inside the newly named GCA.
-The Toms escaped St. Cloud with a 4-3 win to open their season last Saturday, their first win as a ranked team. They opened up a 3-0 lead headed into the second intermission and then allowed three unanswered goals. Nathan Pilling scored the game winner on the power play during a five-minute major penalty.
-The Fighting Hawks finished fifth in the NCHC last season under 10-year head coach, Brad Berry. Berry's associate head coach, Dane Jackson, was named the 17th head coach in program history in March of this year. North Dakota was picked to finish third in the NCHC's Preseason Media Poll.
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
-The Tommies' win over St. Cloud State was their first as a nationally ranked team.
-Charlie Schoen's goal to open the Toms' scoring in 2025-26 was also his first as a Tommie. He joins Lucas Wahlin (2024-25), Jake Braccini (2023-24), Carsen Peters (2022-23), and Christiano Versich (2021-22) as first-goal scorers.
-Lucas Wahlin's first goal of the season was assisted by Alex Gaffney and Nick Williams for their first career points as a Tommie.
-Nathan Pilling's score was not only the first game-winning goal of his collegiate career, but his first goal while playing college hockey.
-Carsen Musser recorded his first win as a Tommie as well.
TWO'S COMPANY
-Chase Cheslock and Alex Gaffney each added two points against the Huskies last Saturday. They are the first Tommies to have exactly two points in the same game since Lucas Wahlin and Matthew Gleason on 3/8/25 against Ferris State in their 4-1 win to clinch a spot in the CCHA Semifinal.
-It was Cheslock's second career two-point game, his first was against Lindenwood on 1/4/25, the second win in the Tommies' 15-4-1 run to conclude last season.
-It was Gaffney's 11th career two-plus point game, all others were with Harvard. His career-high came in a four-point game against Northeastern on 1/1/23.
LUCAS HIM GO
-Lucas Wahlin is currently riding a 10-game point streak dating back to 2/8 of last season, he has eight goals and eight assists for 16 points.
IN GOOD COMPANY
-Lucas Wahlin entered the season third in career points in the NCAA among active players. His 92 (now 93) 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 36) 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.
GOING GREY
-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:
-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.
MOVIN' ON UP
Rico Blasi is now the 22nd winningest coach in NCAA Men's Hockey history. He is sixth in wins among active head coaches. Blasi is 16 wins shy of 21st all-time (Murray Armstrong). He is 447-400-86.
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 come into the weekend ranked 19th in the USCHO.com poll, their highest in program history. The Fighting Hawks come in ranked 10th. The Toms only have one Top 10 ranked win during the first four seasons in DI (10/7/23 at #7 St. Cloud State).
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.
THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES
-The Tommies and Fighting Hawks match up for the first time in program history on Friday, October 10 at 7:07 p.m. at Ralph Engelstad Arena. The game is the season opener for North Dakota, a team that finished 21-15-2 last season.
-Game two of the home-and-home will take place at Grand Casino Arena on Sunday at 5:07 p.m. It will be the first college hockey game inside the newly named GCA.
-The Toms escaped St. Cloud with a 4-3 win to open their season last Saturday, their first win as a ranked team. They opened up a 3-0 lead headed into the second intermission and then allowed three unanswered goals. Nathan Pilling scored the game winner on the power play during a five-minute major penalty.
-The Fighting Hawks finished fifth in the NCHC last season under 10-year head coach, Brad Berry. Berry's associate head coach, Dane Jackson, was named the 17th head coach in program history in March of this year. North Dakota was picked to finish third in the NCHC's Preseason Media Poll.
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
-The Tommies' win over St. Cloud State was their first as a nationally ranked team.
-Charlie Schoen's goal to open the Toms' scoring in 2025-26 was also his first as a Tommie. He joins Lucas Wahlin (2024-25), Jake Braccini (2023-24), Carsen Peters (2022-23), and Christiano Versich (2021-22) as first-goal scorers.
-Lucas Wahlin's first goal of the season was assisted by Alex Gaffney and Nick Williams for their first career points as a Tommie.
-Nathan Pilling's score was not only the first game-winning goal of his collegiate career, but his first goal while playing college hockey.
-Carsen Musser recorded his first win as a Tommie as well.
TWO'S COMPANY
-Chase Cheslock and Alex Gaffney each added two points against the Huskies last Saturday. They are the first Tommies to have exactly two points in the same game since Lucas Wahlin and Matthew Gleason on 3/8/25 against Ferris State in their 4-1 win to clinch a spot in the CCHA Semifinal.
-It was Cheslock's second career two-point game, his first was against Lindenwood on 1/4/25, the second win in the Tommies' 15-4-1 run to conclude last season.
-It was Gaffney's 11th career two-plus point game, all others were with Harvard. His career-high came in a four-point game against Northeastern on 1/1/23.
LUCAS HIM GO
-Lucas Wahlin is currently riding a 10-game point streak dating back to 2/8 of last season, he has eight goals and eight assists for 16 points.
IN GOOD COMPANY
-Lucas Wahlin entered the season third in career points in the NCAA among active players. His 92 (now 93) 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 36) 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.
GOING GREY
-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:
- 783 games
- 120 goals
- 210 assists
-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.
MOVIN' ON UP
Rico Blasi is now the 22nd winningest coach in NCAA Men's Hockey history. He is sixth in wins among active head coaches. Blasi is 16 wins shy of 21st all-time (Murray Armstrong). He is 447-400-86.
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)
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