University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saturday, March 15
Mendota Heights, Minn.
4:00 p.m. Central
vs
Bowling Green
Photo by: Nick Wosika
Men’s Hockey hosts Mason Cup Semifinal
3/13/2025 3:02:00 PM | Men's Hockey
The Tommies battle the Bowling Green Falcons for the right to play in the Mason Cup Final
THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES
ON THE RADIO
CCHA TV ON MIDCO SPORTS PLUS
PRETTY GOOD COMPANY
The Tommies are one of four teams in the entire country to have at least 14 wins during the calendar year 2025. St. Thomas is 14-3-1 since the turn of the new year.
The other three teams? The winner of the Atlantic Hockey Conference, Holy Cross (14-4-1), the winner of the Hockey East Conference, Boston College (14-3-1), and the winner of the NCHC, Western Michigan (15-3-0).
ALL-CCHA KINDA GUYS
The Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced its All-Conference Teams earlier this week and three Tommies were honored for the first time in program history. Chase Foley received second-team honors while Liam Malmquist and Lucas Wahlin each garnered a spot on the first team.
Chase Foley had a tremendous season with career-bests in nearly every statistical category. He set single season program records during the regular season in assists by a defenseman (17) and points by a defenseman (20). He also quarterbacked the best power play in program history and the best in the CCHA this season (26.5%). Foley finished top three in all offensive categories among conference defensemen. The grad transfer was named November Defenseman of the month earlier in the season. This is Foley's first all-conference honor and the Tommies first all-conference honor for a defenseman.
Wahlin played in 34 games during the regular season and added 16 goals, 19 assists, and 35 points, all were career highs. He finished the season as one of five players in the conference with at least one point per game. His +9 was second on the Tommies to his linemate and fellow first-teamer Liam Malmquist. The St. Thomas captain wrapped up the regular season with 34 goals, 52 assists, and 86 points for his career in a Tommie uniform. All three of those marks lead the program. The Tommie captain was named forward of the week once in January and was named February Forward of the Month. This is Wahlin's second career all-conference honor and first time on the first team.
Malmquist played in 34 games as well during the regular season and added 13 goals, 23 assists, and 36 points. All of those were career highs and his 23 assists and 26 points were single season program records as was his +11 rating. The Edina, Minn. native concluded the regular season with 23 career goals, 41 assists, and 63 points in two full seasons for the Tommies. He was third all-time in assists and points before his six-point weekend in the Mason Cup Quarterfinals. Malmquist was named forward of the week twice in January and was named January Forward of the Month. This is Malmquist's first career all-conference honor.
THE KING OF THE NORTH RETURNS
Jake Sibell has won each of his last 11 starts. He began the season with a record of 0-4-3 and is now 11-4-3 headed into the second round of the Mason Cup Playoffs.
During this 11-game stretch, Sibell has a goals against average of 2.22 and save percentage of .932. He recorded the most saves in a game in program history on the road against Bowling Green (57) and notched his first career shutout against the Northern Michigan Wildcats.
A semi-finalist of the Mike Richter last season, Sibell has won more games this year (11) than in any of his previous seasons of college hockey.
SERIES HISTORY
Bowling Green holds the edge in the all-time matchup with St. Thomas, 8-5-3 but the Tommies are 5-2-3 in their last 10 and won the season series 2-1-1 during the 2024-25 regular season calendar.
The Falcon's one regulation win against the Toms this season was dominant. They scored the game's first four goals, outshot the Tommies 33-25, and nearly shut the Purple out if not for a Cooper Gay goal in the final 90 seconds.
They dominated in game two as well but got "Sibelled." The senior netminder stopped a program record 57 shots in the 2-1 win to silence the home crowd at Slater Ice Arena. Lucas Wahlin scored both goals in the tight win.
St. Thomas added a power play goal in each of the road games in February and are 9-61 (14.8%) all-time against Bowling Green. The Falcons also had a pair of power play goals in February and are 14-58 (24.1%) all-time.
CCHA RANKINGS
NCAA RANKINGS
CURRENT TOMMIES AGAINST BOWLING GREEN
GOING STREAKING
2024-25 CCHA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
2024-25 CCHA PLAYERS OF THE MONTH
MARCH RECAP
FEBRUARY RECAP
JANUARY RECAP
DECEMBER RECAP
NOVEMBER RECAP
OCTOBER RECAP
MOVIN' ON UP
With the Tommies' 3-2 win over the Mavericks earlier this season, head coach Rico Blasi moved into 22nd on the all-time NCAA Men's Hockey Coach wins leaderboard. He passed Bill Wilkinson with the 438th win of his career. (He now has 445)
Coach Blasi is seventh in wins among active head coaches. One of those six coaches ahead (Bob Daniels, Ferris State, 510 career wins) has announced that he will retire at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.
Blasi is 18 wins shy of 21st all-time (Murray Armstrong).
A WIZARD AT WORK
Liam Malmquist is one of five players (Lucas Wahlin is also one) in the CCHA with at least a point per game of production (1.06). In total, the Edina native has 42 points in 36 games to lead the conference. Malmquist scored a career-high 27 points in 36 games last season (0.75 points per game). He scored 12 points during the month of November and added 13 points in January.
Lucas Wahlin will hold onto the title for fastest to the 20-point mark, he did so in just 16 games last season. Wahlin scored 30 points for the first time in program history last season, it took him 36 games.
Liam was the fastest in program history to 30 points, he did so in 24 games, he is also the single season program record holder with 42 points. He is the only Tommie in DI program history to surpass the 40-point mark.
SOMEBODY, STOP THAT MALM!
Liam Malmquist's four-point performance against Lindenwood moved him into the top three in program history with 50 points in Purple. He is the third Tommie to surpass 50 career points (Lucas Wahlin 67 points and Ryan O'Neill 55).
He completed the feat in 56 games, a program record. It took O'Neill 82 games and Wahlin 62 games.
COACH BLASI
NON-CONFERENCE
DI SCORING RECORD HOLDERS
NHL DEVELOPMENT CAMPS
NHL DRAFT PICKS
CAPTAINS
TRANSFERS
FRESHMEN
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR – LUCAS WAHLIN
Junior, Lucas Wahlin was the first Tommie to score 30 points in a season, the first Tommie to be named to an All-CCHA team, and now the first Tommie in Division I program history to be named CCHA Preseason Player of the Year.
He was one of three named by conference head coaches along with Isaac Gordon of Michigan Tech and Connor Milburn of Lake Superior State. Wahlin was the only Preseason Player of the Year selected by the media. He was also named to both Preseason All-CCHA Teams.
The junior captain set career marks in goals (12), assists (18), and points (30) while playing in all 37 games last season. He ranked t-11th in goals, t-7th in assists, t-7th in points, and 3rd in shots in the conference.
Wahlin, a native of Woodbury, Minn., is the program's leader in points (51) and is the only Tommie above the 50-point milestone during the DI era. He was also the program's first sophomore captain.
He earned Second-Team All-CCHA, CCHA All-Academic, and CCHA Scholar Athlete honors last season and was named conference player of the week on November 6 for his four points in a weekend series sweep of Northern Michigan.
PRESEASON CCHA COACHES POLL
St. Thomas was picked to finish first in the Preseason CCHA Coaches Poll on September 12th. The former high-water mark in the preseason poll was a fifth-place finish last season. The Toms earned 73 votes in total and tied with Bemidji State in first place votes (3). The Beavers earned 69 votes, four behind St. Thomas. Michigan Tech (2) and Minnesota State (1) finished third and fourth respectively and each earned at least one first place vote. Bowling Green (50), Lake Superior State (46), Augustana (46), Ferris State (28), and Northern Michigan (26) rounded out the poll.
PRESEASON CCHA MEDIA POLL
St. Thomas was picked to finish second in the Preseason CCHA Media Poll on September 12th. This is the highest the Tommies have ever finished in the preseason media poll. Bemidji State came out on top with 107 total votes and five first place votes. The Tommies came up with the same amout of total votes (107) but earned one less first place vote. Minnesota State (2) and Michigan Tech (1) finished third and fourth respectively and each earned at least one first place vote. Bowling Green (63), Lake Superior State (60), Augustana (52), Northern Michigan (40), and Ferris State (33) rounded out the poll.
- St. Thomas Men's Hockey (18-13-5 overall, 13-9-4 CCHA) has won seven straight games in regulation and is 14-3-1 in 2025. The Tommies play the Bowling Green Falcons (18-13-4, 12-10-4) in the Mason Cup Semifinal for the first time in program history on Saturday at 4:07 p.m. in the friendly confines of Saint Thomas Ice Arena. The game is the first half of a CCHA doubleheader with the other semifinal matchup between the Minnesota State Mavericks and Bemidji State Beavers at 7:07 p.m. in Mankato.
- Bowling Green toppled the Michigan Tech Huskies in two games at Slater Family Ice Arena, 2-1 OT and 4-0 last weekend during the Mason Cup Quarterfinals. They concluded the regular season with a 1-5 record after defeating the Tommies 4-1 on Feb. 7. The Falcons have one of the best goal scorers in the CCHA in Brody Waters (16 goals) and are led by Ryan O'Hara with 33 points. Their goaltender Christian Stoever is one of the best (if not the best) in the country since returning from injury midseason. He is 12-2-3 with a 1.74 GAA and .942 SV%. The Falcons are the most penalized team in the conference at 4.6 penalties per game.
- The Tommies are one of four teams in the country with 14 wins in 2025. They have won seven regulation games in a row, a program record. Cooper Gay and Liam Malmquist lead the CCHA with 18 goals while Malmquist also leads with 42 points. Jake Sibell has won each of his last 11 straight games and enters the weekend with an 11-4-3 record, 2.51 GAA and .921 SV%. The Toms have struggled on the power play with just three goals in their last 11 games after scoring 13 in their previous 11 games.
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 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.
PRETTY GOOD COMPANY
The Tommies are one of four teams in the entire country to have at least 14 wins during the calendar year 2025. St. Thomas is 14-3-1 since the turn of the new year.
The other three teams? The winner of the Atlantic Hockey Conference, Holy Cross (14-4-1), the winner of the Hockey East Conference, Boston College (14-3-1), and the winner of the NCHC, Western Michigan (15-3-0).
ALL-CCHA KINDA GUYS
The Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced its All-Conference Teams earlier this week and three Tommies were honored for the first time in program history. Chase Foley received second-team honors while Liam Malmquist and Lucas Wahlin each garnered a spot on the first team.
Chase Foley had a tremendous season with career-bests in nearly every statistical category. He set single season program records during the regular season in assists by a defenseman (17) and points by a defenseman (20). He also quarterbacked the best power play in program history and the best in the CCHA this season (26.5%). Foley finished top three in all offensive categories among conference defensemen. The grad transfer was named November Defenseman of the month earlier in the season. This is Foley's first all-conference honor and the Tommies first all-conference honor for a defenseman.
Wahlin played in 34 games during the regular season and added 16 goals, 19 assists, and 35 points, all were career highs. He finished the season as one of five players in the conference with at least one point per game. His +9 was second on the Tommies to his linemate and fellow first-teamer Liam Malmquist. The St. Thomas captain wrapped up the regular season with 34 goals, 52 assists, and 86 points for his career in a Tommie uniform. All three of those marks lead the program. The Tommie captain was named forward of the week once in January and was named February Forward of the Month. This is Wahlin's second career all-conference honor and first time on the first team.
Malmquist played in 34 games as well during the regular season and added 13 goals, 23 assists, and 36 points. All of those were career highs and his 23 assists and 26 points were single season program records as was his +11 rating. The Edina, Minn. native concluded the regular season with 23 career goals, 41 assists, and 63 points in two full seasons for the Tommies. He was third all-time in assists and points before his six-point weekend in the Mason Cup Quarterfinals. Malmquist was named forward of the week twice in January and was named January Forward of the Month. This is Malmquist's first career all-conference honor.
THE KING OF THE NORTH RETURNS
Jake Sibell has won each of his last 11 starts. He began the season with a record of 0-4-3 and is now 11-4-3 headed into the second round of the Mason Cup Playoffs.
During this 11-game stretch, Sibell has a goals against average of 2.22 and save percentage of .932. He recorded the most saves in a game in program history on the road against Bowling Green (57) and notched his first career shutout against the Northern Michigan Wildcats.
A semi-finalist of the Mike Richter last season, Sibell has won more games this year (11) than in any of his previous seasons of college hockey.
SERIES HISTORY
Bowling Green holds the edge in the all-time matchup with St. Thomas, 8-5-3 but the Tommies are 5-2-3 in their last 10 and won the season series 2-1-1 during the 2024-25 regular season calendar.
The Falcon's one regulation win against the Toms this season was dominant. They scored the game's first four goals, outshot the Tommies 33-25, and nearly shut the Purple out if not for a Cooper Gay goal in the final 90 seconds.
They dominated in game two as well but got "Sibelled." The senior netminder stopped a program record 57 shots in the 2-1 win to silence the home crowd at Slater Ice Arena. Lucas Wahlin scored both goals in the tight win.
St. Thomas added a power play goal in each of the road games in February and are 9-61 (14.8%) all-time against Bowling Green. The Falcons also had a pair of power play goals in February and are 14-58 (24.1%) all-time.
CCHA RANKINGS
- Cooper Gay T-1st with 18 goals
- Liam Malmquist T-1st with 18 goals
- Lucas Wahlin 3rd with 17 goals
- Matthew Gleason T-17th with 10 goals
- Liam Malmquist T-1st with 24 assists
- Wahlin T-4th with 22 assists
- Chase Foley T-7th with 19 assists
- Liam Malmquist 1st with 42 points
- Lucas Wahlin 2nd with 39 points
- Cooper Gay 7th with 29 points
- Chase Foley T-21st with 22 points
- Gay (150) and Wahlin (137), – 1st and 2nd in shots
- Gay T-2nd with 7 power play goals
- Malmquist T-7th with 5 power play goals
- Gleason T-9th with 4 power play goals
- Wahlin T-17th with 3 power play goals
- Ryan O'Neill T-17th with 3 power play goals
- Foley T-14th with 46 blocks
- Gay 1st with .55 goals per game
- Malmquist 1st with 1.17 points per game
- Wahlin T-5th with 4 game winning goals
- Malmquist 1st with 4 shorthanded goals
- Malquist 1st with 2 hat tricks
- Malmquist T-6th with +17 rating
- Wahlin T-8th with +15 rating
- Chase Cheslock T-10th with +14 rating
- Matthew Gleason T-16th with a +10 rating
- Chase Foley T-16th with a +10 rating
NCAA RANKINGS
- Liam Malmquist T-32nd with .67 assists per game
- Lucas Wahlin T-24th with 355 faceoff wins
- Wahlin T-17th with 4 game winning goals
- Jake Sibell 15th with .694 winning percentage
- Cooper Gay 16th with .55 goals per game
- Malmquist T-21st with .50 goals per game
- Wahlin T-31st with .47 goals per game
- Malmquist 17th with 1.17 points per game
- Wahlin T-27th with 1.08 points per game
- Gay T-16th with 7 power play goals
- Jake Sibell 22nd with .921 SV%
- Malmquist 1st with 4 shorthanded goals
- St. Thomas – 14th with .239 power play
- St. Thomas – T-2nd with 8 shorthanded goals
CURRENT TOMMIES AGAINST BOWLING GREEN
- Cooper Gay – 9G-4A-13P
- Ryan O'Neill – 1G-8A-9P
- Liam Malmquist – 2G-5A-7P
- Jake Braccini – 1G-5A-6P
- Lucas Wahlin – 3G-3A-6P
- Quinton Pepper – 1G-4A-5P
- Ethan Gauer – 0G-5A-5P
- Matthew Gleason – 3G-1A-4P
- Grant Docter – 0G-3A-3P
- Chase Foley – 0G-3A-3P
- J.D. Metz – 1G-0A-1P
- Caige Sterzer – 1G-0A-1P
- Casy Laylin – 0G-1A-1P
- Luc Laylin – 0G-1A-1P
- Aaron Trotter – 3-3-2, 241 saves, 488 mins, 22 GA, 2.70 GAA, .916 SV%
- Jake Sibell – 2-1-1, 121 saves, 244 mins, 8 GA, 1.97 GAA, .938 SV%
GOING STREAKING
- Lucas Wahlin – seven game point streak
- Matthew Gleason – six game point streak
- Chase Foley – four game point streak
- Liam Malmquist – two game point streak (two game goal streak)
2024-25 CCHA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
- Mason Poolman Defenseman of the Week (10/13/24)
- Cooper Gay Forward of the Week (11/18/24)
- Lucas Wahlin Forward of the Week (1/6/25)
- Liam Malmquist Forward of the Week (1/13/25)
- Liam Malmquist Forward of the Week (1/20/25)
- Jake Sibell Goaltender of the Week (2/10/25)
- Jake Sibell Goaltender of the Week (3/2/25)
- Liam Malmquist Forward of the Week (3/10/25)
2024-25 CCHA PLAYERS OF THE MONTH
- Mason Poolman Defenseman of the Month (10/30/24)
- Chase Foley Defenseman of the Month (12/3/24)
- Liam Malmquist Forward of the Month (2/1/25)
- Lucas Wahlin Forward of the Month (3/3/25)
MARCH RECAP
- 3-0-0, +12 goal differential
- Completed the sweep with a 2-1 win over the Michigan Tech Huskies to improve to 16-13-5 this season
- Swept the Ferris State Bulldogs, 7-3 and 4-1 to move on in the Mason Cup Playoffs for the first time in program history.
- Liam Malmquist leads the Tommies with five goals and six points in March.
- Jake Sibell is 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals against average and .943 save percentage.
- The Toms are 1-10 on the power play and 13-14 on the penalty kill.
FEBRUARY RECAP
- 4-2-0 record, +2 goal differential
- Fell in overtime to #15 Minnesota State after a clutch goal with an extra attacker by Chase Foley with just over one minute to go.
- Split their final series with Bowling Green with a 4-1 loss in game one followed by a 2-1 win in game two. Jake Sibell saved a program record 57 shots in the win.
- Swept their road series against Northern Michigan 3-0 and 4-3. Sibell recorded the first shutout of his career on Friday. The conference road sweep was just the Tommies' second in program history.
- Swept the Michigan Tech Huskies on home ice, 4-3 and 2-1. Jake Sibell got both wins in goal and Lucas Wahlin led the way with two key goals.
- Lucas Wahlin had a tremendous month with five goals and nine points, both team leading. He was also named February Forward of the Month.
- Aaron Trotter was 0-2-0 with a 3.51 goals against average and .873 save percentage
- Jake Sibell is 4-0-0 with a 1.75 goals against average and .951 save percentage
- The Toms were 2-10 on the power play and 12-16 on the penalty kill.
JANUARY RECAP
- 7-1-1 record, +9 goal differential
- Swept Lindenwood for the first of the season. They won their first overtime game of the year, 3-2 before a come-from-behind effort in game two.
- Swept Ferris State with a program-record nine goals on Friday and came back in the final half of the third period on Saturday.
- Took 4 of six points from the Lakers with a 4-3 overtime win and 3-3 tie with a shootout victory.
- Split with Bemidji State with a 3-2 win and 2-1 loss.
- Took four points from their weekend series with #15 Minnesota State with a 3-2 comeback win on Friday, and a 3-2 overtime loss on Saturday.
- Liam Malmquist led the team with six goals and 13 points during the month of January. Cooper Gay and Jake Braccini also scored six goals.
- Jake Sibell was 3-0-0 with a 3.49 goals against average and .891 save percentage
- Aaron Trotter was 4-1-1 with a 2.40 goals against average and .921 save percentage
- The Toms were 9-30 on the power play (30.0%) and 18-24 on the penalty kill (75.0%).
- They were +5 in the first period, -3 in the second, and +5 in the third.
DECEMBER RECAP
- 1-2-0 record, +1 goal differential
- Split series on the road against a strong Michigan Tech team. Outshot the Huskies 26-25 but could not find the equalizer after taking and giving up an early lead. St. Thomas was greatly outshot against Tech in game two 30-17 but rode a three-goal first period to an easy victory.
- Fell in second game of split series with #12 St, Cloud state in 5th one-goal loss of the season, 2-1.
- Mason Poolman, Cole Miller, Lucas Wahlin, Matthew Gleason, Liam Malmquist, Alexander Tell, and Chase Cheslock each led the Tommies with 2 points during December. Poolman, Miller, Wahlin, Gleason, Malmquist, and Cooper Gay each had one of the Toms' six goals.
- Aaron Trotter appeared in three games with an 0-2-0 record, 1.65 GAA, .942SV%, 4GA, 65SV in 145 minutes
- Jake Sibell made one start but was removed midway due to injury. He has a 1-0-0 record, 1.94GAA, .944SV%, 1GA, 17SV in 31 minutes.
- The Toms were 1-11 on the power play (9.1%) and 4-6 on the penalty kill (66.6%).
NOVEMBER RECAP
- 2-5-3 record, -1 goal differential
- Split series with Augustana, won game one 4-0 and lost game two 3-2
- Took one of the six possible points from Minnesota State with a 5-3 home loss and 1-1 tie (SOL) on the road
- Tied Bowling Green in game one, lost in the shootout, defeated the Falcons 6-3 in game two, their second largest margin of victory this season.
- Tied Bemidji State in game one 2-2, lost in the shootout, fell to the Beavers in regulation, 2-1 in game two.
- Fell in both games by two goals each against Lake State.
- Cooper Gay was named CCHA Forward of the Week for the first time in his career after his three-goal weekend against the Falcons.
- Chase Foley was named CCHA Defenseman of the Month for his eight power play points to lead the Tommie power play to its top spot in the conference (25%)
- Lucas Wahlin and Matthew Gleason each pace the Tommies with five goals in November, Liam Malmquist's 12 points led the team.
- Aaron Trotter made six starts in goal with a .900 SV% and 2.67 GAA.
- Jake Sibell saw action in four games with a .933 SV% and 1.94 GAA.
- The Toms were 12-31 on the power play (38.7%) and 37-44 on the penalty kill (84.1%).
OCTOBER RECAP
- 1-3-1 record, -9 goal differential
- Lost a 1-0 game to open the season against nationally ranked St. Cloud State
- Tied with Vermont 5-5 in game one at home and then took the season series with a 3-1 win over the Catamounts
- Mason Poolman's three goals in the series set a new high-water mark for his career and earned him his first CCHA Defenseman of the Week honor
- Lost both games to a tremendously talented Minnesota Golden Gophers squad, 7-1 and 6-2
- Poolman was named CCHA Defenseman of the Month, the first in program history
- Cooper Gay and Mason Poolman led the way with three goals in October, Poolman and Liam Malmquist each led the way with five points over the five games. Casy Laylin played all five games and finished the month with a team-best +3 rating
- The Tommies were 0-17 on the power play and 17-21 (.810) on the penalty kill
MOVIN' ON UP
With the Tommies' 3-2 win over the Mavericks earlier this season, head coach Rico Blasi moved into 22nd on the all-time NCAA Men's Hockey Coach wins leaderboard. He passed Bill Wilkinson with the 438th win of his career. (He now has 445)
Coach Blasi is seventh in wins among active head coaches. One of those six coaches ahead (Bob Daniels, Ferris State, 510 career wins) has announced that he will retire at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.
Blasi is 18 wins shy of 21st all-time (Murray Armstrong).
A WIZARD AT WORK
Liam Malmquist is one of five players (Lucas Wahlin is also one) in the CCHA with at least a point per game of production (1.06). In total, the Edina native has 42 points in 36 games to lead the conference. Malmquist scored a career-high 27 points in 36 games last season (0.75 points per game). He scored 12 points during the month of November and added 13 points in January.
Lucas Wahlin will hold onto the title for fastest to the 20-point mark, he did so in just 16 games last season. Wahlin scored 30 points for the first time in program history last season, it took him 36 games.
Liam was the fastest in program history to 30 points, he did so in 24 games, he is also the single season program record holder with 42 points. He is the only Tommie in DI program history to surpass the 40-point mark.
SOMEBODY, STOP THAT MALM!
Liam Malmquist's four-point performance against Lindenwood moved him into the top three in program history with 50 points in Purple. He is the third Tommie to surpass 50 career points (Lucas Wahlin 67 points and Ryan O'Neill 55).
He completed the feat in 56 games, a program record. It took O'Neill 82 games and Wahlin 62 games.
COACH BLASI
- Entering fourth season for St. Thomas
- During his 20-year tenure at Miami (Ohio) 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 Alec Martinez, Jeff Zatkoff, Blake Coleman, and Riley Smith.
- 445 career wins (22nd all-time / seventh among active head coaches)
NON-CONFERENCE
- St. Thomas played eight non-conference games this season. They opened with the #16 ranked St. Cloud State Huskies for their first ranked-on-ranked matchup in program history. Vermont made their first journey to Mendota Heights before the Toms headed across the river for a game on the road against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Game two of the cross-town series returned to Xcel Energy Center on Saturday October 26, presented by Wings Credit Union. The Toms' dropped the second half of their split series with #12 St. Cloud. They wrapped up their out-of-conference schedule with a sweep of the Lindenwood Lions, their first of the season.
- The Toms were 3-4-1 outside of the CCHA this season. They fell to the #16 St. Cloud State Huskies, 1-0, to open the season. St. Thomas tied Vermont 5-5 and beat them 3-1 to take the series. They fell in two games to #5 Minnesota, 7-1 and 6-2 and lost another one-goal battle with #12 St. Cloud State. Most recently they swept Lindenwood on the road, 3-2 in overtime and 4-2.
- St. Thomas had a -7 goal differential in eight non-con games.
- The Tommies have played four games against ranked non-conference opponents and they are 0-4-0.
- 1-1-1 home record, 2-2-0 away record, 0-1-0 neutral site record
DI SCORING RECORD HOLDERS
- Lucas Wahlin (35), Cooper Gay (34), and Mack Byers (31, 2022-24) round out the top three in DI goals scored
- Wahlin's career-long goal streak ended after six games. He scored a shorthanded goal in the Tommies' game one win over Ferris State last weekend. The senior captain is currently third in the CCHA with 17 goals on the year.
- Gay scored two in that same game one win over the Bulldogs last weekend to bring his season total up to a CCHA-leading 18 goals. It was his third two-goal game of the season.
- Lucas Wahlin (90), Liam Malmquist (69), and Ryan O'Neill (66) make up the top three in DI points
- Wahlin is on a seven game point streak with 13 points since 2/8. During the Tommies' 14-3-1 2025, he has scored a point in all but three games. He became the first Tom to reach 90 points and is one point shy of his first career 40-point season, he is second in the CCHA with 39.
- Malmquist added six points last weekend against Ferris State. He became the first Tommie in program history to 40 points and leads the CCHA with 42 this season.
- O'Neill tallied two points in game one last weekend but his four-game point streak ended on Saturday.
NHL DEVELOPMENT CAMPS
- Chase Cheslock (New Jersey Devils)
- Ryder Donovan (Vegas Golden Knights)
- Cooper Gay (Colorado Avalanche)
- Lucas Wahlin (St. Louis Blues)
- Liam Malmquist (Los Angeles Kings)
NHL DRAFT PICKS
- Ryder Donovan was selected as the 110th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL Draft by the Vegas Golden Knights.
- Donovan played three games last season for the Purple but made an instant impact with the overtime game-winner against ranked St. Cloud State to open the season.
- Chase Cheslock was selected as the 154th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils and is the Tommies first "homegrown" draft pick.
- Cheslock joined the Tommies mid-season and played 19 games with one goal and two assists. His first career goal came in the Toms' game-two playoff win over Lake Superior State.
CAPTAINS
- Junior, Lucas Wahlin, wears the "C" on his chest for coach Rico Blasi's squad for the second consecutive season. Wahlin, a Woodbury, Minn. native, finished with 30 points in 37 games last season. He became the first Tommie in program history to surpass the 50-point career milestone on March 9thagainst Lake Superior State. He played for three teams over three seasons in both the NAHL and USHL before finding a home on the corner of Cretin and Summit.
- Seniors Ethan Gauer and Matthew Gleason along with junior Cooper Gay don the "A" this season.
- Both Gauer and Gleason are one-time transfers, but Gauer has played in each season of the Tommies' four at the DI level. He has 25 career points and leads the program with 124 blocked shots in 103 career games in purple.
- Matthew Gleason transferred in from Colorado College last season and had a career year. He scored five goals and added 18 assists for 23 points. Gleason is originally from St. Paul and played high school hockey for Cretin Derham Hall.
- Cooper Gay was on track for a tremendous season before going down with an injury in the second half of the season. The Hanover, Minn. native scored 12 goals and added 10 assists for a total of 22 points in 29 games as a sophomore. Gay has scored the fifth most goals in program history (16) and is sixth in points (29).
TRANSFERS
- Graduate student, Chase Foley, a Mendota Heights, Minn. native and Colorado College transfer, played 104 games for the Tigers and scored three goals with 28 assists over his four-year career as a defenseman. He is coming off a career season with two goals and 14 assists.
- Graduate student, Ray Christy, a St. Paul, Minn. native and Colorado College transfer, played 105 games for the Tigers and scored five goals with nine assists over his four-year career as a defenseman. He is coming off a career season with two goals and five assists while wearing the "A".
- Junior, Caige Sterzer, a Kimberley, B.C., Canada native and Lindenwood transfer, played 54 games for the Lions and scored 14 goals with 19 assists over his two-year NCAA career as a forward. He is coming off a career season with eight goals and 14 assists, he was the Lions leading point scorer.
- Both Chase Foley and Ray Christy played their Minnesota High School hockey at Saint Thomas Ice Arena for the Saint Thomas Academy Cadets. Neither Christy nor Foley has played in Mendota Heights since 2017-18. Foley was the captain of that 2017-18 Cadets team.
FRESHMEN
- First-year, Casy Laylin, native of St. Michael, Minn. most recently played for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the BCHL for a season and a half. The forward skated in 69 games and added 15 goals and 29 assists for Salmon Arm.
- First-year forward, Nick Mikan, an Edina, Minn. native, most recently played for the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL where he skated in 35 games with eight goals and five assists.
- First-year defenseman, Ethan Elias, a native of Maple Grove, Minn., most recently played for the Madison Capitols for two seasons where he skated in 105 games with 10 goals and 22 assists. He was the captain of the 2023-24 Capitols team.
- First-year forward, Alexander Tell, from Linkoping, Sweden, skated in 49 games for Linkoping HC 120 and added 11 goals and 14 assists while wearing an "A".
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR – LUCAS WAHLIN
Junior, Lucas Wahlin was the first Tommie to score 30 points in a season, the first Tommie to be named to an All-CCHA team, and now the first Tommie in Division I program history to be named CCHA Preseason Player of the Year.
He was one of three named by conference head coaches along with Isaac Gordon of Michigan Tech and Connor Milburn of Lake Superior State. Wahlin was the only Preseason Player of the Year selected by the media. He was also named to both Preseason All-CCHA Teams.
The junior captain set career marks in goals (12), assists (18), and points (30) while playing in all 37 games last season. He ranked t-11th in goals, t-7th in assists, t-7th in points, and 3rd in shots in the conference.
Wahlin, a native of Woodbury, Minn., is the program's leader in points (51) and is the only Tommie above the 50-point milestone during the DI era. He was also the program's first sophomore captain.
He earned Second-Team All-CCHA, CCHA All-Academic, and CCHA Scholar Athlete honors last season and was named conference player of the week on November 6 for his four points in a weekend series sweep of Northern Michigan.
PRESEASON CCHA COACHES POLL
St. Thomas was picked to finish first in the Preseason CCHA Coaches Poll on September 12th. The former high-water mark in the preseason poll was a fifth-place finish last season. The Toms earned 73 votes in total and tied with Bemidji State in first place votes (3). The Beavers earned 69 votes, four behind St. Thomas. Michigan Tech (2) and Minnesota State (1) finished third and fourth respectively and each earned at least one first place vote. Bowling Green (50), Lake Superior State (46), Augustana (46), Ferris State (28), and Northern Michigan (26) rounded out the poll.
PRESEASON CCHA MEDIA POLL
St. Thomas was picked to finish second in the Preseason CCHA Media Poll on September 12th. This is the highest the Tommies have ever finished in the preseason media poll. Bemidji State came out on top with 107 total votes and five first place votes. The Tommies came up with the same amout of total votes (107) but earned one less first place vote. Minnesota State (2) and Michigan Tech (1) finished third and fourth respectively and each earned at least one first place vote. Bowling Green (63), Lake Superior State (60), Augustana (52), Northern Michigan (40), and Ferris State (33) rounded out the poll.
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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
