University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, February 28
Mendota Heights, Minn.
7:07 p.m. Central
15-13-5, 12-9-4
4
vs
3
Michigan Tech
16-14-3, 12-10-3
1
2
3
F
Michigan Tech
0
0
3
3
St. Thomas (MN)
2
0
2
4
Photo by: George Dannecker
Men’s Hockey stops late-game surge from Michigan Tech in win
2/28/2025 11:20:00 PM | Men's Hockey
The Tommies improved to 11-3-1 over their last 15 games with the 4-3 victory
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. – St. Thomas Men's Hockey (15-13-5 overall, 12-9-4 CCHA) won its fourth in a row, 11th in its last 15, 12th of the conference schedule, and 15th of the regular season as it held off a late extra-attacker push from the Michigan Tech Huskies (16-14-3, 12-10-3) on Friday night at Saint Thomas Ice Arena in front of just under 1000 in attendance.
The Toms matched their program-best 15 wins from last season and surpassed their 39-point conference total from a season ago in thrilling fashion to move to within one point of clinching home ice in the CCHA Quarterfinal.
Goals from Ethan Gauer, Ryan O'Neill, Lucas Wahlin, and Casy Laylin put the Toms out in front 4-0 before Tech pulled its goalie with just under seven minutes to play. Thanks to sustained offensive pressure and, in part, a broken skate lace for Jake Sibell, the Huskies pumped in three goals down the stretch. Sibell won his eighth consecutive start with 36 saves on 39 shots. Despite the four goals, Casy Laylin was the only Tommie with a multi-point night.
Recap
St. Thomas took the game to Michigan Tech in the first period and were rewarded with the game's first two goals. Ethan Gauer (3) tapped a puck into the net at 2:42. Chase Foley (15) and Casy Laylin (6) assisted on the play. Gauer was the only of the eight seniors honored on senior night to score a goal. He played in his 137th game as a Tommie, just five shy of the program's total games played (142).
The Tommies added their second goal of the game at 14:42 when Ryan O'Neill (6) teamed up with Jake Braccini (9) on a pair of cross ice passes through the slot. O'Neill was wide open on the right side after his pass to the left side drew the goaltender out of position. The junior gathered himself and sniped the puck past the diving netminder. Chase Cheslock broke the puck out of the zone and was credited with his 12th assist of the season.
The second period came and went without any goals for either side. The Huskies outshot the Tommies in the middle frame nine to five but Jake Sibell was up to the task to continue his impressive run of play.
Lucas Wahlin opened things up in the third period with his 15th goal of the season at 5:37. Matthew Gleason (7) shot a puck that was blocked by a Huskie right onto the stick of Wahlin who one-timed it home from the high slot over the shoulder of the Tech goalie.
Casy Laylin added his third of the year at 10:18 from Quinton Pepper (2) and Cole Miller (3). Pepper stirred the drink on the play with a feathered pass-through traffic to Laylin on the back door. After a stride to his right, Casy delivered the puck into the net.
Then things got scary…real scary for the Tommies. In a drastic move, the Huskies pulled their goaltender at 13:13 with nearly seven minutes of regulation still to play. They rifled three shots on goal over the next minute before breaking the seal on Sibell and the Tommies at 14:19. They scored on their very next shot at 15:15, again with the extra attacker.
Lucas Wahlin got dinged for a cross-checking minor penalty at 16:12 to give the Huskies a chance with six skaters against the Tommies' four. They scored at 17:40 to make it a one goal contest.
Sibell made two more key saves at 18:49 and 19:05 before Tech was called for interference at 19:07. Even still, Sibell had to make another pair of saves to weather the storm and come out with the win.
Up Next
The Tommies look to lock up home ice in need of at least one point or a Bowling Green loss to Lake Superior State on Saturday as they face-off with the Michigan Tech Huskies at 6:07 p.m. Limited tickets are still available at tommiesports.com/tickets.
The Toms matched their program-best 15 wins from last season and surpassed their 39-point conference total from a season ago in thrilling fashion to move to within one point of clinching home ice in the CCHA Quarterfinal.
Goals from Ethan Gauer, Ryan O'Neill, Lucas Wahlin, and Casy Laylin put the Toms out in front 4-0 before Tech pulled its goalie with just under seven minutes to play. Thanks to sustained offensive pressure and, in part, a broken skate lace for Jake Sibell, the Huskies pumped in three goals down the stretch. Sibell won his eighth consecutive start with 36 saves on 39 shots. Despite the four goals, Casy Laylin was the only Tommie with a multi-point night.
Recap
St. Thomas took the game to Michigan Tech in the first period and were rewarded with the game's first two goals. Ethan Gauer (3) tapped a puck into the net at 2:42. Chase Foley (15) and Casy Laylin (6) assisted on the play. Gauer was the only of the eight seniors honored on senior night to score a goal. He played in his 137th game as a Tommie, just five shy of the program's total games played (142).
The Tommies added their second goal of the game at 14:42 when Ryan O'Neill (6) teamed up with Jake Braccini (9) on a pair of cross ice passes through the slot. O'Neill was wide open on the right side after his pass to the left side drew the goaltender out of position. The junior gathered himself and sniped the puck past the diving netminder. Chase Cheslock broke the puck out of the zone and was credited with his 12th assist of the season.
The second period came and went without any goals for either side. The Huskies outshot the Tommies in the middle frame nine to five but Jake Sibell was up to the task to continue his impressive run of play.
Lucas Wahlin opened things up in the third period with his 15th goal of the season at 5:37. Matthew Gleason (7) shot a puck that was blocked by a Huskie right onto the stick of Wahlin who one-timed it home from the high slot over the shoulder of the Tech goalie.
Casy Laylin added his third of the year at 10:18 from Quinton Pepper (2) and Cole Miller (3). Pepper stirred the drink on the play with a feathered pass-through traffic to Laylin on the back door. After a stride to his right, Casy delivered the puck into the net.
Then things got scary…real scary for the Tommies. In a drastic move, the Huskies pulled their goaltender at 13:13 with nearly seven minutes of regulation still to play. They rifled three shots on goal over the next minute before breaking the seal on Sibell and the Tommies at 14:19. They scored on their very next shot at 15:15, again with the extra attacker.
Lucas Wahlin got dinged for a cross-checking minor penalty at 16:12 to give the Huskies a chance with six skaters against the Tommies' four. They scored at 17:40 to make it a one goal contest.
Sibell made two more key saves at 18:49 and 19:05 before Tech was called for interference at 19:07. Even still, Sibell had to make another pair of saves to weather the storm and come out with the win.
Up Next
The Tommies look to lock up home ice in need of at least one point or a Bowling Green loss to Lake Superior State on Saturday as they face-off with the Michigan Tech Huskies at 6:07 p.m. Limited tickets are still available at tommiesports.com/tickets.
Team Stats
MTU
UST
Shots
39
20
PPG
1
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
2
3
Penalty Mins
4
6
Faceoffs Won
43
31
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
2
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
1
+/-
2
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
1
+/-
-1
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Hockey
D
/ Men's Hockey
D
/ Men's HockeyD
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's HockeyF
/ Men's Hockey
D
/ Men's HockeyF
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
G
/ Men's HockeyF
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