University of St. Thomas Athletics
Photo by: Nick Wosika
Men’s Hockey earns top spot in CCHA Coaches’ Poll
9/15/2025 10:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Lucas Wahlin named POTY and Nathan Pilling named ROTY
ST. PAUL, Minn. – After one of the best second halves in the country and a trip to the Mason Cup Final in 2024-25, the University of St. Thomas Men's Hockey team has been picked to finish first in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in the 2025-26 preseason coaches' poll. The media has picked the Tommies to finish second behind last year's champion Minnesota State Mavericks.
Lucas Wahlin received Preseason All-CCHA honors from both the coaches and media. The third year-captain was also named Preseason Player of the Year by the coaches for the second time in a row. He finished last season, after being named Preseason POTY, with 17 goals, 24 assists, and 41 points behind only his teammate, Liam Malmquist. Wahlin also received First Team All-CCHA honors for the first time in his career last season.
Newcomer, Nathan Pilling, was voted Preseason Rookie of the Year by the league's coaches. Pilling is coming off a career best season with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL with 37 goals, 30 assists, and 67 points in 67 games. The Calgary native measures in at 6-4, 209.
2025-26 CCHA Coaches' Poll
1.St. Thomas – 72 (3 First Place Votes)
2.Minnesota State – 71 (4)
3.Michigan Tech – 59 (2)
4.Augustana – 59
5.Bowling Green – 58
6.Bemidji State – 54
7.Lake Superior State – 38
8.Ferris State – 33
9.Northern Michigan – 24
2025-26 Media Poll
1.Minnesota State – 127 (8)
2.St. Thomas – 115 (2)
3.Bowling Green – 108 (4)
4.Michigan Tech – 100
5.Augustana – 95
6.Bemidji State – 75
7.Ferris State – 54
8.Lake Superior State – 49
9.Northern Michigan – 33
Head coach Rico Blasi begins his fifth season behind the bench for St. Thomas on Saturday, October 4th on the road against St. Cloud State. The game is the first of a split home-and-home series against the soon-to-be nationally ranked Huskies. The second half of the series is scheduled for Tuesday, November 11 at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena.
St. Thomas returns 13 letter winners from last season, including captain Lucas Wahlin whose 41 points were second in the conference a year ago. The Tommies also return goaltender, Aaron Trotter, who has played 78 games in goal, more than any other St. Thomas goalie in the DI era.
The Tommies finished the regular season in third place with 44 points at 19-14-5 overall and 13-9-4 in CCHA play. They hosted Ferris State in the CCHA Quarterfinal and beat the Bulldogs 7-3 and 4-1 before hosting the Bowling Green Falcons in the Mason Cup Semifinal. After a 3-1 win, they headed over to Mankato for the Mason Cup Final against the Mavericks, a game they lost 4-2.
The Purple welcome in 15 new faces in for year five of the journey, five transfers and 10 freshmen:
-Bauer Berry, freshman defenseman from Grand Forks, N.D.
-Alexandros Gaffney, graduate transfer from Harvard, forward out of West Orange, N.J.
-Josh Giuliani, freshman forward from Plymouth, Minn.
-Dylan Godbout, sophomore transfer from Ohio State, forward out of Woodbury, Minn.
-Hayes Hundley, freshman defenseman from Upper Arlington, Ohio
-Will Ingemann, freshman goaltender from Plymouth, Minn.
-Colton Jamieson, freshman defenseman from Hudson, Wisc.
-Attila Lippai, freshman forward from St. Paul, Minn.
-Carsen Musser, sophomore transfer from Colorado College, goaltender out of Fairmont, Minn.
-Nathan Pilling, freshman forward from Calgary, Alberta
-Sam Ranallo, freshman forward from Rogers, Minn.
-Luke Schelter, freshman forward from Centennial, Colo.
-Charlie Schoen, junior transfer from Arizona State, forward out of Andover, Minn.
-Lucas Van Vliet, freshman forward out of Livonia, Mich.
-Nick Williams, junior transfer from Michigan Tech, defenseman out of Edina, Minn.
Tickets
Tickets are on sale now for the Tommies battle with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks presented by Midco, on October 12th at Grand Casino Arena. Click here for tickets.
Single game tickets on sale now for the inaugural season at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena. Click here for single game tickets.
Follow Along
For any and all information pertaining to the St. Thomas Men's Hockey team, follow along on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) at @TommieMHockey. We are also on TikTok @tommiesports.
Lucas Wahlin received Preseason All-CCHA honors from both the coaches and media. The third year-captain was also named Preseason Player of the Year by the coaches for the second time in a row. He finished last season, after being named Preseason POTY, with 17 goals, 24 assists, and 41 points behind only his teammate, Liam Malmquist. Wahlin also received First Team All-CCHA honors for the first time in his career last season.
Newcomer, Nathan Pilling, was voted Preseason Rookie of the Year by the league's coaches. Pilling is coming off a career best season with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL with 37 goals, 30 assists, and 67 points in 67 games. The Calgary native measures in at 6-4, 209.
2025-26 CCHA Coaches' Poll
1.St. Thomas – 72 (3 First Place Votes)
2.Minnesota State – 71 (4)
3.Michigan Tech – 59 (2)
4.Augustana – 59
5.Bowling Green – 58
6.Bemidji State – 54
7.Lake Superior State – 38
8.Ferris State – 33
9.Northern Michigan – 24
2025-26 Media Poll
1.Minnesota State – 127 (8)
2.St. Thomas – 115 (2)
3.Bowling Green – 108 (4)
4.Michigan Tech – 100
5.Augustana – 95
6.Bemidji State – 75
7.Ferris State – 54
8.Lake Superior State – 49
9.Northern Michigan – 33
Head coach Rico Blasi begins his fifth season behind the bench for St. Thomas on Saturday, October 4th on the road against St. Cloud State. The game is the first of a split home-and-home series against the soon-to-be nationally ranked Huskies. The second half of the series is scheduled for Tuesday, November 11 at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena.
St. Thomas returns 13 letter winners from last season, including captain Lucas Wahlin whose 41 points were second in the conference a year ago. The Tommies also return goaltender, Aaron Trotter, who has played 78 games in goal, more than any other St. Thomas goalie in the DI era.
The Tommies finished the regular season in third place with 44 points at 19-14-5 overall and 13-9-4 in CCHA play. They hosted Ferris State in the CCHA Quarterfinal and beat the Bulldogs 7-3 and 4-1 before hosting the Bowling Green Falcons in the Mason Cup Semifinal. After a 3-1 win, they headed over to Mankato for the Mason Cup Final against the Mavericks, a game they lost 4-2.
The Purple welcome in 15 new faces in for year five of the journey, five transfers and 10 freshmen:
-Bauer Berry, freshman defenseman from Grand Forks, N.D.
-Alexandros Gaffney, graduate transfer from Harvard, forward out of West Orange, N.J.
-Josh Giuliani, freshman forward from Plymouth, Minn.
-Dylan Godbout, sophomore transfer from Ohio State, forward out of Woodbury, Minn.
-Hayes Hundley, freshman defenseman from Upper Arlington, Ohio
-Will Ingemann, freshman goaltender from Plymouth, Minn.
-Colton Jamieson, freshman defenseman from Hudson, Wisc.
-Attila Lippai, freshman forward from St. Paul, Minn.
-Carsen Musser, sophomore transfer from Colorado College, goaltender out of Fairmont, Minn.
-Nathan Pilling, freshman forward from Calgary, Alberta
-Sam Ranallo, freshman forward from Rogers, Minn.
-Luke Schelter, freshman forward from Centennial, Colo.
-Charlie Schoen, junior transfer from Arizona State, forward out of Andover, Minn.
-Lucas Van Vliet, freshman forward out of Livonia, Mich.
-Nick Williams, junior transfer from Michigan Tech, defenseman out of Edina, Minn.
Tickets
Tickets are on sale now for the Tommies battle with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks presented by Midco, on October 12th at Grand Casino Arena. Click here for tickets.
Single game tickets on sale now for the inaugural season at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena. Click here for single game tickets.
Follow Along
For any and all information pertaining to the St. Thomas Men's Hockey team, follow along on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) at @TommieMHockey. We are also on TikTok @tommiesports.
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
D
/ Men's Hockey
G
/ Men's Hockey
D
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
G
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
G
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
D
/ 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
