University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saturday, March 15
Mendota Heights, Minn.
4:00 p.m. Central
19-13-5
3
vs
1
Bowling Green
18-14-4
1
2
3
F
Bowling Green
0
1
0
1
St. Thomas (MN)
0
1
2
3
Photo by: George Dannecker
Tommies ground Falcons; Move on to Mason Cup Final
3/15/2025 8:38:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Men’s Hockey advances to CCHA Championship game after 3-1 victory
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. – St. Thomas Men's Hockey (19-13-5 overall) took care of business on Saturday night in the Mason Cup Semifinal game against the Bowling Green Falcons (18-14-4). The Tommies won their eighth game in a row, 3-1.
Casy Laylin scored the game's first goal in the second period from Ethan Gauer and Carson Peters. Liam Malmquist scored his program-record 19th of the season from Lucas Wahlin in the third, it was Wahlin's 40thpoint of the year. Cooper Gay tied Malmquist's record with his 19th on an empty netter to seal the game. Malmquist assisted on the Gay goal. Jake Sibell made 32 saves on 33 shots to extend his personal win streak to 12 games. He is now the single season program record holder in wins (12).
Recap
Saturday's first period was one of high intensity and physicality. Throughout the entirety of the tightly contested frame there were only two true scoring chances for each side. The Tommies' Cooper Gay hit a post while on a rush and then minutes later, Jake Braccini dangled his way through three Falcon defenders for a chance at a shot on goal.
Bowling Green had a pair of opportunities on the doorstep of Jake Sibell's crease in the latter half of the opening frame. The second of the two came during Bowling Green's first power play. Despite the physical play from both sides, Cooper Gay's high sticking minor penalty at 18:51 was the only infraction of the first.
The game got a bit more chippy in the second period after the Tommies killed off their first penalty, Jake Braccini was called for goaltender interference at 1:17. Just under one minute into their second power play, the Falcons were called for interference at 2:12. Neither team capitalized on the opposing side's penalty.
While back at even strength, Carson Peters and Ethan Gauer combined to break the puck out of their zone and to Casy Laylin. The freshman skated into the offensive end and ripped a shot from the left circle over the shoulder of Bowling Green's netminder at 5:40. The Falcons battled back with their only goal of the game at 17:45.
Liam Malmquist worked his magic yet again in the third period but this time he was outshined by his assistant. Lucas Wahlin pickpocketed a Falcon forward in the neutral zone and then, while falling to the ice, roped a no-look pass to a wide-open Malmquist on the left side. The senior had time all alone against the goalie and picked his corner at 7:47 for the 19th time. He leads the CCHA with 19 goals and 44 points.
Drama increased in the final two minutes after Bowling Green's timeout at 18:07. The Falcons pulled their goalie and then drew a slashing penalty at 18:35. Jake Sibell made a big save at 18:43 before the Toms got a good bounce and Cooper Gay scored his 19th of the year against the empty net.
Sibell and the defense weathered two more shots on goal to advance to the Mason Cup Final for the first time in program history.
Up Next
The Tommies are in the Mason Cup Final, their opponent and the location of the game are in the balance. If Minnesota State defeats Bemidji State the final will be in Mankato, if Bemidji wins, the Tommies will host next Friday.
Casy Laylin scored the game's first goal in the second period from Ethan Gauer and Carson Peters. Liam Malmquist scored his program-record 19th of the season from Lucas Wahlin in the third, it was Wahlin's 40thpoint of the year. Cooper Gay tied Malmquist's record with his 19th on an empty netter to seal the game. Malmquist assisted on the Gay goal. Jake Sibell made 32 saves on 33 shots to extend his personal win streak to 12 games. He is now the single season program record holder in wins (12).
Recap
Saturday's first period was one of high intensity and physicality. Throughout the entirety of the tightly contested frame there were only two true scoring chances for each side. The Tommies' Cooper Gay hit a post while on a rush and then minutes later, Jake Braccini dangled his way through three Falcon defenders for a chance at a shot on goal.
Bowling Green had a pair of opportunities on the doorstep of Jake Sibell's crease in the latter half of the opening frame. The second of the two came during Bowling Green's first power play. Despite the physical play from both sides, Cooper Gay's high sticking minor penalty at 18:51 was the only infraction of the first.
The game got a bit more chippy in the second period after the Tommies killed off their first penalty, Jake Braccini was called for goaltender interference at 1:17. Just under one minute into their second power play, the Falcons were called for interference at 2:12. Neither team capitalized on the opposing side's penalty.
While back at even strength, Carson Peters and Ethan Gauer combined to break the puck out of their zone and to Casy Laylin. The freshman skated into the offensive end and ripped a shot from the left circle over the shoulder of Bowling Green's netminder at 5:40. The Falcons battled back with their only goal of the game at 17:45.
Liam Malmquist worked his magic yet again in the third period but this time he was outshined by his assistant. Lucas Wahlin pickpocketed a Falcon forward in the neutral zone and then, while falling to the ice, roped a no-look pass to a wide-open Malmquist on the left side. The senior had time all alone against the goalie and picked his corner at 7:47 for the 19th time. He leads the CCHA with 19 goals and 44 points.
Drama increased in the final two minutes after Bowling Green's timeout at 18:07. The Falcons pulled their goalie and then drew a slashing penalty at 18:35. Jake Sibell made a big save at 18:43 before the Toms got a good bounce and Cooper Gay scored his 19th of the year against the empty net.
Sibell and the defense weathered two more shots on goal to advance to the Mason Cup Final for the first time in program history.
Up Next
The Tommies are in the Mason Cup Final, their opponent and the location of the game are in the balance. If Minnesota State defeats Bemidji State the final will be in Mankato, if Bemidji wins, the Tommies will host next Friday.
Team Stats
BGS
UST
Shots
33
29
PPG
0
0
SHG
0
1
Penalties
3
3
Penalty Mins
6
6
Faceoffs Won
51
28
Game Leaders
+/-
2
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
1
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
6
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
1
A
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Hockey
D
/ Men's HockeyF
/ Men's HockeyF
/ Men's HockeyF
/ Men's Hockey
D
/ Men's Hockey
G
/ Men's HockeyF
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