University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saturday, March 1
Mendota Heights, Minn.
6:07 p.m. Central
16-13-5, 13-9-4
2
vs
1
Michigan Tech
16-15-3, 12-11-3
1
2
3
F
Michigan Tech
0
0
1
1
St. Thomas (MN)
0
1
1
2
Photo by: Nick Wosika
Men’s Hockey clinches home ice with sweep of Michigan Tech
3/1/2025 10:13:00 PM | Men's Hockey
The Tommies secured a third-place finish and a matchup with the Ferris State Bulldogs in the CCHA Quarterfinal
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. – For weeks now, St. Thomas Men's Hockey (16-13-5 overall, 13-9-4 CCHA) has understood that its destiny was in its hands and with the 2-1 win over Michigan Tech (16-15-3, 12-11-3) to cap off its second consecutive conference sweep the Tommies earned the right to host the first round of the CCHA playoffs.
The Purple capped off their season with a program-best 16th win following an unprecedented second half surge dating back to January 3rd. St. Thomas is 12-3-1 since then and has shot itself up the CCHA standings to a third-place finish.
Jake Sibell led the way in net with 30 saves on 31 shots to win his eighth consecutive start. Cooper Gay scored on the power play from Chase Foley and Ryan O'Neill and Lucas Wahlin netted the game-winner from Matthew Gleason and Foley. Gay and Wahlin each finished the regular season with 16 goals to rest atop the conference goal scorers.
Recap
The first period of Saturday's crucial contest between the Tommies and Huskies was a classic CCHA battle of physicality. Both sides defended with pride and held the game scoreless through the opening 20 minutes. The Toms hit two posts in the period and came up empty on both of their power play chances. The Huskies too had multiple quality scoring chances and a power play opportunity that was not capitalized on.
St. Thomas outshot Michigan Tech 15-8 in the frame and headed into the locker room on the power play with 1:03 left on the man advantage to begin the second.
Lucas Wahlin won the opening faceoff, and the Tommies shot three pucks on net in the opening minute. That third shot from Ryan O'Neill rebounded in front of the crease and Cooper Gay wrapped it past the goal line for his seventh power play score of the season. Chase Foley and O'Neill earned the assists on the play and for the fifth consecutive game the Toms were on top first.
The Huskies were next to strike at 1:23 into the third period. Their captain, Jack Works had an open goal mouth in front of him after a deceptive behind-the-goal pass from Logan Morrell, and he did not miss.
St. Thomas was on the backfoot for a mere six minutes before a perfectly executed breakout from Chase Foley up to Matthew Gleason sprung Lucas Wahlin on a pass off the left side wall in the neutral zone. The Tommies' captain had nobody to beat but the goalie and he did, short side on the backhand.
Michigan Tech had 26 shots in the third, 14 were on goal, 13 of those were saved by Sibell and eight others were blocked by the Tommies in front.
In a united defensive effort, the Tommies blocked a total of 23 shots to weather the storm and come out with the victory. The penalty kill unit came up huge as well and held the CCHA's best power play scoreless on five opportunities.
The Huskies pulled their goalie with three minutes remaining but could not find the game tying tally.
Up Next
Tommie Men's Hockey takes on the Ferris State Bulldogs at Saint Thomas Ice Arena for the CCHA Quarterfinal next Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (if necessary). It will be the second consecutive season the Tommies earned home ice in the first round of the CCHA playoffs.
The Purple capped off their season with a program-best 16th win following an unprecedented second half surge dating back to January 3rd. St. Thomas is 12-3-1 since then and has shot itself up the CCHA standings to a third-place finish.
Jake Sibell led the way in net with 30 saves on 31 shots to win his eighth consecutive start. Cooper Gay scored on the power play from Chase Foley and Ryan O'Neill and Lucas Wahlin netted the game-winner from Matthew Gleason and Foley. Gay and Wahlin each finished the regular season with 16 goals to rest atop the conference goal scorers.
Recap
The first period of Saturday's crucial contest between the Tommies and Huskies was a classic CCHA battle of physicality. Both sides defended with pride and held the game scoreless through the opening 20 minutes. The Toms hit two posts in the period and came up empty on both of their power play chances. The Huskies too had multiple quality scoring chances and a power play opportunity that was not capitalized on.
St. Thomas outshot Michigan Tech 15-8 in the frame and headed into the locker room on the power play with 1:03 left on the man advantage to begin the second.
Lucas Wahlin won the opening faceoff, and the Tommies shot three pucks on net in the opening minute. That third shot from Ryan O'Neill rebounded in front of the crease and Cooper Gay wrapped it past the goal line for his seventh power play score of the season. Chase Foley and O'Neill earned the assists on the play and for the fifth consecutive game the Toms were on top first.
The Huskies were next to strike at 1:23 into the third period. Their captain, Jack Works had an open goal mouth in front of him after a deceptive behind-the-goal pass from Logan Morrell, and he did not miss.
St. Thomas was on the backfoot for a mere six minutes before a perfectly executed breakout from Chase Foley up to Matthew Gleason sprung Lucas Wahlin on a pass off the left side wall in the neutral zone. The Tommies' captain had nobody to beat but the goalie and he did, short side on the backhand.
Michigan Tech had 26 shots in the third, 14 were on goal, 13 of those were saved by Sibell and eight others were blocked by the Tommies in front.
In a united defensive effort, the Tommies blocked a total of 23 shots to weather the storm and come out with the victory. The penalty kill unit came up huge as well and held the CCHA's best power play scoreless on five opportunities.
The Huskies pulled their goalie with three minutes remaining but could not find the game tying tally.
Up Next
Tommie Men's Hockey takes on the Ferris State Bulldogs at Saint Thomas Ice Arena for the CCHA Quarterfinal next Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (if necessary). It will be the second consecutive season the Tommies earned home ice in the first round of the CCHA playoffs.
Team Stats
MTU
UST
Shots
31
36
PPG
0
1
SHG
0
0
Penalties
3
5
Penalty Mins
6
10
Faceoffs Won
33
28
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
4
A
2
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
8
A
0
+/-
-1
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
0
+/-
-1
Goals
0
Sh
4
A
1
Players Mentioned
D
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/ Men's HockeyF
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