University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, March 6
St. Paul, Minn.
7:07 p.m. CST
vs
Lake Superior State
Photo by: Nick Wosika
Men’s Hockey hosts Lake State for CCHA Quarterfinals
3/4/2026 12:31:00 PM | Men's Hockey
The 2nd seeded Tommies welcome 7th seeded Lakers for best-of-three series
ST. PAUL, Minn. – For the second time in three seasons the #19 St. Thomas men's hockey team (18-11-5, 15-7-4) will host the Lake Superior State Lakers (11-20-3, 8-16-2) in the opening round of the CCHA's Mason Cup Playoffs. The Tommies wrapped up their 2025-26 regular season with a second-place finish in the conference after a two-point weekend in Bemidji.
Caige Sterzer and Carsen Musser were the heroes for the Tommies last weekend in game two against Bemidji State. Sterzer's third period goal pushed the Toms into overtime, and Musser's 28 saves and two stops in the shootout secured the two-seed with a pair of points. The Purple head into the playoffs without a regulation win since their nation-leading 11-game win streak concluded on January 30 against Michigan Tech. They finished the regular season with the best offense in the CCHA at 3.5 goals per game and fourth best defense with 2.91 goals allowed per game. Their 21.1% on the power play was third and 79.6% on the penalty kill was fifth. Individually they had the conference leaders in goals (Lucas Wahlin – 19), shots (Nathan Pilling – 126), and shorthanded goals (Alex Gaffney & Pilling – 3). Gaffney led the squad with 37 points and Chase Cheslock led with 23 assists. Carsen Musser emerged as the late-season option in goal for the Tommies with a 8-5-3 record in 17 starts with a 3.09 GAA and .885 SV%.
The Lakers finished out their regular season with a regulation loss and tie at home against the Ferris State Bulldogs. Including the last time they played the Tommies, Lake State is 2-6-2 in their last 10 with wins against only Northern Michigan. Freshman Calem Mangone and sophomore Williams Ahlrik are tied for the team lead with 26 points in 34 games. Mangone's 12 goals lead the team as do Ahlrik's 15 assists. Those two have nine of Lake State's 22 power play goals this season (41%), the unit has converted at a 20.6% rate this season, fifth in the CCHA. Their 74.4 PK% is eighth in the conference. Rorke Applebee has been the horse in net with a 10-16-1 record in 27 starts with a 2.89 GAA and .914 SV%. His lone shutout of the season came on 1/17 against Bowling Green.
THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES
-Game one is scheduled for 7:07 PM at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena on Friday night. The Toms are 1-1 on Friday when hosting the CCHA Quarterfinals with a 4-1 loss to Lake State in 2024 and a 7-3 win last season over Ferris State.
-Game two is also scheduled for 7:07 PM on Saturday night. The Purple started the season 10-2-1 on Saturdays this season but are 0-3-1 the last four series,
-Game three will be scheduled for 5:07 PM if the series is not decided in two 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 home games 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.
SEASON AGAINST LAKE STATE
-The Tommies are 3-1-0 against the Lakers this season with a +9-goal differential and wins in three straight. They are 1-1-0 at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena with a 5-3 loss and 4-1 win. That game two win jumpstarted the Toms' 11-game win streak that spanned from December 6 to January 30.
-Nathan Pilling leads the Purple with 10 points against the Lakers this season. Pilling, Lucas Wahlin, and Jake Braccini have each scored four goals.
-Aaron Trotter is 2-1-0 with a .921 SV% and 2.13 GAA while Carsen Musser is 1-0-0 with a 3.50 GAA and .886 SV%.
-The Purple's power play was just 3-17 (17.6%) against the Lakers.
-Branden Piku, Johnny Druskinis, and Ryan Beck are tied for the team lead with four points against St. Thomas. Rorke Applebee tallied a 3.88 GAA and .900 SV% against
the Purple this season.
PLAYOFF HISTORY AGAINST LAKE STATE
-This is the first time since the Lakers upset the Tommies in the CCHA Quarterfinals back in 2024 that these two teams have met in the playoffs.
-Lake State took game one 4-1, dropped game two 4-2, and scored with seven seconds remaining in game three to win 3-2.
TOMMIE HOCKEY'S IRON MAN
Luc Laylin played in his 145th straight game as a Tommie on Saturday night against Bemidji State last week. The senior surpassed Ethan Gauer for the all-time program record against Augustana (DIII days included). Luc is sixth in DI program history with 27 goals, eighth with 25 assists, sixth with 52 points, and 12th with 28 blocks. He played in a career-high 38 games last season and has played in all 34 games so far this season.
MASON POOLMAN LATEST TO 100 GAMES
Mason Poolman hit a milestone on Saturday night when he became the 10th Tommie in DI program history to play in his 100th game. He joins: Luc Laylin, Ethan Gauer, Ryan O'Neill, Lucas Wahlin, Quinton Pepper, Jake Braccini, Carson Peters, Luke Manning, and Cole Miller.
THE BELIEVER CLASS
The Tommies' senior class was celebrated on Senior Night two weekends ago. The whole class is made up of nine players with seven coming from the freshman class of 2022-23. Together the seven "believers" (Lucas Wahlin, Ryan O'Neill, Quinton Pepper, Jake Braccini, Luc Laylin, Carson Peters, and Aaron Trotter) have combined for:
-63-68-14 overall record
-49-42-11 CCHA record
-Two 2nd place finishes, and a 3rd place finish in the CCHA and a trip to the Mason Cup Final
-7 wins over nationally ranked opponents
-142 goals, 235 assists, and 377 points in 145 games
-33 goalie wins, 2381 saves, and four shutouts
ELITE COMPANY
Lucas Wahlin is one of only five active players in the country with at least three 30-point seasons to his name. Michigan's T.J. Hughes has done it in each of his four years, while Northeastern's Dylan Hryckowian, Arizona State's Cruz Lucius, and Quinnipiac's Jeremy Wilmer have done it three times. – courtesy of College Hockey Inc.'s Weekly Notebook
GRAY JERSEY SUCCESS
The Tommies debuted their alternate gray uniforms on October 12th in a 5-2 loss against then #10 North Dakota. They have not been defeated since with a 4-0-0 record. Stats in their four games since the debut: 5.5 goals per game, 2.5 goals allowed per game, 31 PP%, 81 PK%, +1 in first period, +6 in second, +5 in third. The Tommies are 7-4-2 in the 13 games since they last wore the grays. Alex Gaffney and Lucas Wahlin lead with nine points and a +8 rating in gray. Both Will Ingemann and Carsen Musser are 2-0-0 with a 2.50 GAA.
FEBRUARY BLUES
-The Tommies were shutout against Augustana for the first time in 503 days since they were blanked at home by St. Cloud State, 1-0.
-The Purple were 1-3-2 in the year's shortest month. It was the first time since October (2-5-1) that they lost multiple games in a given month (4-1-2 in November, 3-1-0 in December, 8-1-0 in January).
-When St. Thomas heads to the third period with a lead, it is 11-1-2 this season. The one loss came on 10/31 against Minnesota State, the first tie was against Providence on 10/24, and the second tie came on Friday against Augustana.
THEY ALL SCORE GOALS
The Tommies have gotten goals from 18 different players this season. Lucas Wahlin's 19 goals lead the way, he is one goal away from tying Liam Malmquist's program-record set last season. Nathan Pilling leads the team with six power play goals. Five players have tallied shorthanded goals, while Gaffney and Pilling lead the team with three. Van Vliet and Wahlin also lead with three game-winners. Gaffney, Pilling, and Hayes Hundley have two game-winning tallies.
POINTS PARITY
-The Tommies have had a different player lead them in points each of their first five seasons of DI play.
LUCAS WAHLIN – CCHA STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) recognizes outstanding achievement both on and off the ice through its annual Student-Athlete of the Year Award. Lucas Wahlin is the latest recipient of this prestigious honor for the 2025-26 season.
A business administrative major with a minor in sports management, Wahlin carries an impressive 3.85 cumulative grade point average. He has earned Dean's List recognition every semester and exemplifies academic excellence while balancing the demands of DI hockey. His dedication in the classroom mirrors his discipline on the ice, consistently demonstrating leadership, engagement, and respect.
A third-year captain for St. Thomas, Wahlin has led the Tommies through a critical period of growth. His leadership helped establish the cultural foundation of Tommie hockey, one built on brotherhood and relentless compete.
Head coach, Rico Blasi had this to say about Wahlin, "Lucas embodies our culture on and off the ice. His ability to navigate his rigorous coursework while continuing to lead our team is impressive."
In the community, Wahlin is equally impactful. He volunteers with a local hockey club during J-terms and summers, introducing young athletes to the sport. He organizes and runs summer shooting clinics for youth players and recently spoke at the Minnesota Wild Leadership Summit, sharing insights with aspiring student-athletes about leadership and balancing athletics with academics. Wahlin also mobilized his teammates to serve as volunteer readers at JFK Elementary, supporting students working to improve their literacy skills.
On the ice, Wahlin's accomplishments are second-to-none. He is the St. Thomas DI program's all-time leader in goals, assists, and points. He became the first Tommie to reach both 100 points and 50 career goals at the DI level. This season he leads the CCHA with 18 goals and is the conference's all-time leader in points. He recently reached 30 points in a season for the third time in his career, a program best.
A two-time CCHA Forward of the Month and four-time Forward of the Week honoree, Wahlin has consistently been recognized for his excellence. His sustained performance, leadership, and sportsmanship embody the standards the CCHA Student-Athlete of the Year Award was created to honor.
Lucas Wahlin exemplifies the highest ideals of a CCHA student-athlete, excelling academically, leading competitively, serving selflessly, and fostering a culture of excellence both on and off the ice.
WAHLIN FOR HOBEY
Lucas Wahlin is one of the best players in the nation and has been for a couple of seasons now. The third-year captain is in his final year with the Tommies and is the sole nominee for the Hobey Baker Award from St. Thomas. Wahlin has been the foundation for the Tommies during their rise to becoming one of the best programs in the country with production on the ice and an unwavering ability to lead off the ice. The former NA3HL forward has improved relentlessly across his four seasons of college hockey. This season he became the first Tommie in DI program history to surpass 100 points (123 now) and 50 goals (53 now). He is the all-time leader in the "new" CCHA in goals and points. Nationally he ranks 10th with .63 goals per game and 19 total goals and 24th in points per game (1.13).
464 FOR BLASI
-Head coach, Rico Blasi, won his 450th game on Tuesday, November 11 against St. Cloud State. The now 25-year head coach currently sits 22nd all-time and fourth among active head coaches. His 464 career wins are 21st all-time, four from Joe Marsh in 20th, and eight from Don Vaughan in 19th. Blasi is the fourth winningest among active head coaches.
100 FOR WAHLIN
-Lucas Wahlin became the first Tommie to score 100 career points after his three-point burst against the St. Cloud State Huskies on Tuesday, November 11. The Tommie captain did so in 109 games at a 0.92 points per game pace.
-25 different players either assisted on a Wahlin goal or scored a goal off a Wahlin assist over the course of the last four seasons.
-Liam Malmquist led each category with 12 assists on Wahlin goals and 15 goals off Wahlin assists.
-At the present day, he has recorded 115 points, 34 more than the next closest Tommie.
CURRENT TOMMIES AGAINST LAKE SUPERIOR STATE
-Lucas Wahlin – 8G-9A-17P
-Luc Laylin – 2G-9A-11P
-Ryan O'Neill – 2G-9A-11P
-Nathan Pilling – 4G-6A-10P
-Jake Braccini – 6G-2A-8P
-Lucas Van Vliet – 3G-4A-7P
-Chase Cheslock – 1G-5A-6P
-Mason Poolman – 0G-5A-5P
-Quinton Pepper – 2G-2A-4P
-Charlie Schoen – 2G-2A-4P
-Bauer Berry – 1G-2A-3P
-Cole Miller – 0G-3A-3P
-Dylan Godbout – 0G-2A-2P
-Casy Laylin – 0G-2A-2P
-Alex Gaffney – 0G-2A-2P
-Hayes Hundley – 0G-2A-2P
-Caige Sterzer – 1G-1A-2P
-Jase Sofo – 1G-0A-1P
-Carson Peters – 0G-1A-1P
-Aaron Trotter – 7-5-1, 344 saves, 27 GA, 2.11 GAA, .927 SV%, 1 assist
-Carsen Musser – 1-0-0, 31 saves, 68 mins, 4 GA, 3.52 GAA, .886 SV%
MILESTONE WATCH
-Career Points
2025-26 CCHA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
-Nathan Pilling Rookie of the Week (2/9/26)
-Aaron Trotter Goaltender of the Week (1/27/26)
-Nathan Pilling Rookie of the Week (1/27/26)
-Lucas Van Vliet Rookie of the Week (1/20/26)
-Lucas Wahlin Forward of the Week (1/20/26)
-Hayes Hundley Rookie of the Week (1/4/26)
-Lucas Wahlin Forward of the Week (12/15/25)
-Nathan Pilling Rookie of the Week (12/8/25)
-Carsen Musser Goaltender of the Week (12/8/25)
-Lucas Van Vliet Rookie of the Week (12/1/25)
-Nick Williams Defenseman of the Week (12/1/25)
-Lucas Van Vliet Rookie of the Week (11/23/25)
-Alex Gaffney Forward of the Week (10/20/25)
-Chase Cheslock Defenseman of the Week (10/6/25)
2025-26 CCHA PLAYERS OF THE MONTH
-Lucas Wahlin Forward of the Month (2/2/26)
-Lucas Van Vliet Rookie of the Month (2/2/26)
-Carsen Musser Goaltender of the Month (1/5/26)
-Chase Cheslock Defenseman of the Month (1/5/26)
-Alex Gaffney Forward of the Month (11/3/25)
FEBRUARY RECAP
-1-3-2, -8 goal differential
-Took two points from the Bemidji State Beavers with a shootout win in their game two 2-2 tie after dropping game one in regulation, 3-1.
-Nabbed just one point at home against #18 Augustana with a 3-3 SOL in game one and 4-0 loss in game two, the Tommies first shuout loss in 503 days
-Took two of six points from Bowling Green with a 3-2 OT win and 3-1 regulation loss
-Nathan Pilling led the Tommies with three goals
-Pilling, Alex Gaffney, and Lucas Wahlin each led the team with four points
-Aaron Trotter was 0-2-0 with a 3.16 GAA and .864 SV%
-Carsen Musser was 1-1-2 with a 2.40 GAA and .905 SV%
-The Toms were 5-19 on the power play (26.3%) and 12-16 (75%) on the penalty kill.
JANUARY RECAP
-8-1-0, +22 goal differential
-Split with the national ranked Michigan Tech Huskies with a 4-2 win in game one and 4-3 loss in game two
-Swept Lake Superior State to win the season series, 3-1-0 with a 7-4 comeback win and a dominant 5-0 victory.
-Swept Bemidji State for the first time in program history with a 5-1 win on Friday and 3-2 win on Saturday.
-Completed the season series with a 4-2 win over Minnesota State on the road. The Tommies are now 2-0 in Mankato since the Mason Cup Final loss.
-Swept Ferris State in a pair of high scoring affairs (5-3 and 8-4)
-Jake Braccini led the Tommies with eight goals
-Lucas Van Vliet's 15 points paced the Purple
-Aaron Trotter was 5-1-0 with a 1.88 GAA and .923 SV%
-Carsen Musser was 2-0-0 with a 3.27 GAA and .848 SV%
-Will Ingemann was 1-0-0 with a 4.00 GAA and .789 SV%
-The Toms were 10-38 (26.3%) on the power play and 32-35 (91.4%) on the penalty kill.
DECEMBER RECAP
-3-1-0, +4 goal differential
-Swept the Northern Michigan Wildcats on the road, 2-0 and 4-3.
-Split with the Lake State Lakers on home ice. Took game two 4-1 after dropping the opener, 5-3.
-Lucas Wahlin owned December with five goals while Nathan Pilling and Chase Cheslock led the way with six points a piece.
-Carsen Musser was 3-0-0 with a 1.34 GAA and .945 SV%
-Aaron Trotter was 0-1-0 with a 5.20 GAA and .839 SV%
-The Toms were 3-15 (20%) on the power play and 8-11 (73%) on the penalty kill.
NOVEMBER RECAP
-4-1-2, +7 goal differential
-Took five of six points from the Michigan Tech Huskies with a 3-3 shootout win and 2-1 regulation win.
-Came back from down 2-0 to force overtime in game one against Bowling Green and then dominated in game two, 6-2.
-Came back from down 1-0, 3-1, and 4-3 to tie the Vikings, 4-4. The Tommies ultimately fell in the shootout to earn one conference point in hostile territory.
-Finished off their season series with St. Cloud State on Tuesday to sweep the Huskies, 4-3 and 3-1.
-Took down the 18th ranked Mavericks, 4-3 in overtime on the road. Nathan Pilling notched his second game winner of the season.
-Alex Gaffney's six goals and 10 points led the way.
-Will Ingemann was 2-0-1 with a 2.57 GAA and .914 SV%.
-Aaron Trotter was 1-1-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .922 SV%
-Carsen Musser is 1-0-1 with a 2.44 GAA and .922 SV%
-The Toms were 3-25 (12%) on the power play and 18-24 (75%) on the penalty kill.
OCTOBER RECAP
-2-5-1, -7 goal differential
-Won the first game of the season over St. Cloud State on the road, Nathan Pilling scored the game winning goal.
-Dropped a pair to North Dakota, 6-2 and 5-2.
-Split the road series with Air Force, with an 11-2 win in game one and a 6-2 loss in game two.
-Tied on night one at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena and then won the shootout against #15 Providence before dropping game two 7-4.
-Lost to open CCHA play against Mankato, 3-1 at home.
-Alex Gaffney led the Tommies with 11 points (5G-6A) in October.
-Carsen Musser was 1-4-0 with a 5.25 GAA and .831 SV%.
-Aaron Trotter was 1-0-1 with a 2.24 GAA and .929 SV% .
-Will Ingemann was 0-1-0 with a 2.64 GAA and .875 SV%.
-The Toms are 6-31 (19.4%) on the power play and 20-27 (74%) on the penalty kill.
DI SCORING RECORD HOLDERS
-Lucas Wahlin (54), Cooper Gay (35, 2022-25), and Jake Braccini (33) round out the top three in DI goals scored.
-Lucas Wahlin (127), Ryan O'Neill (91), and Liam Malmquist (72, 2023-25) make up the top three in career points.
NHL DEVELOPMENT CAMPS
-Bauer Berry (Edmonton Oilers)
-Chase Cheslock (New Jersey Devils)
-Carsen Musser (Utah Mammoth)
-Nathan Pilling (Ottawa Senators)
-Lucas Van Vliet (Vegas Golden Knights)
-Lucas Wahlin (Colorado Avalanche)
NHL DRAFT PICKS
-Bauer Berry was selected as the 218th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL draft by the Edmonton Oilers.
-Chase Cheslock was selected as the 154th overall pick of the 2023 NHL draft by the New Jersey Devils and was the first drafted Tommie to commit to the program out of high school.
-Carsen Musser was selected as the 166th overall pick of the 2023 NHL draft by the Utah Mammoth.
-Lucas Van Vliet was selected as the 197th overall pick of the 2024 NHL draft by the Vegas Golden Knights.
PRESEASON PUB
-The Tommies were picked to finish in first place in the CCHA coaches' poll for the second consecutive season earlier in September.
-They were also selected second in the media poll for the second year in a row.
-Lucas Wahlin was once again named Preseason Player of the Year by the coaches after his 17-24—41 point season last year. The now senior was selected as team captain for the third year running last week.
-Newcomer, Nathan Pilling, was named Preseason Rookie of the Year by the conference coaches. He skated in 218 total games across four seasons in the WHL for the Moose Jaw Warriors, Edmonton Oil Kings, and Seattle Thunderbirds… scored 70 career goals, added 56 career assists, and tallied 126 total points in the WHL… coming off a career-best season as assistant captain with the Thunderbirds with 37 goals, 30 assists, and 67 points in 67 games in 2024-25.
COACH BLASI
-Entering fifth season for St. Thomas
-During his 20-year tenure at Miami, 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 Alex Martinez, Jeff Zatkoff, Blake Coleman, and Riley Smith.
-His 464-410-90 record has him 21st all-time and 4th among active head coaches.
NICE TO MEET YA
St. Thomas returned just 13 players from its breakthrough 2024-25 squad. The Tommies welcome in 15 newcomers into the fold, 10 freshman and five transfers.
-Freshmen
Caige Sterzer and Carsen Musser were the heroes for the Tommies last weekend in game two against Bemidji State. Sterzer's third period goal pushed the Toms into overtime, and Musser's 28 saves and two stops in the shootout secured the two-seed with a pair of points. The Purple head into the playoffs without a regulation win since their nation-leading 11-game win streak concluded on January 30 against Michigan Tech. They finished the regular season with the best offense in the CCHA at 3.5 goals per game and fourth best defense with 2.91 goals allowed per game. Their 21.1% on the power play was third and 79.6% on the penalty kill was fifth. Individually they had the conference leaders in goals (Lucas Wahlin – 19), shots (Nathan Pilling – 126), and shorthanded goals (Alex Gaffney & Pilling – 3). Gaffney led the squad with 37 points and Chase Cheslock led with 23 assists. Carsen Musser emerged as the late-season option in goal for the Tommies with a 8-5-3 record in 17 starts with a 3.09 GAA and .885 SV%.
The Lakers finished out their regular season with a regulation loss and tie at home against the Ferris State Bulldogs. Including the last time they played the Tommies, Lake State is 2-6-2 in their last 10 with wins against only Northern Michigan. Freshman Calem Mangone and sophomore Williams Ahlrik are tied for the team lead with 26 points in 34 games. Mangone's 12 goals lead the team as do Ahlrik's 15 assists. Those two have nine of Lake State's 22 power play goals this season (41%), the unit has converted at a 20.6% rate this season, fifth in the CCHA. Their 74.4 PK% is eighth in the conference. Rorke Applebee has been the horse in net with a 10-16-1 record in 27 starts with a 2.89 GAA and .914 SV%. His lone shutout of the season came on 1/17 against Bowling Green.
THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES
-Game one is scheduled for 7:07 PM at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena on Friday night. The Toms are 1-1 on Friday when hosting the CCHA Quarterfinals with a 4-1 loss to Lake State in 2024 and a 7-3 win last season over Ferris State.
-Game two is also scheduled for 7:07 PM on Saturday night. The Purple started the season 10-2-1 on Saturdays this season but are 0-3-1 the last four series,
-Game three will be scheduled for 5:07 PM if the series is not decided in two 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 home games 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.
SEASON AGAINST LAKE STATE
-The Tommies are 3-1-0 against the Lakers this season with a +9-goal differential and wins in three straight. They are 1-1-0 at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena with a 5-3 loss and 4-1 win. That game two win jumpstarted the Toms' 11-game win streak that spanned from December 6 to January 30.
-Nathan Pilling leads the Purple with 10 points against the Lakers this season. Pilling, Lucas Wahlin, and Jake Braccini have each scored four goals.
-Aaron Trotter is 2-1-0 with a .921 SV% and 2.13 GAA while Carsen Musser is 1-0-0 with a 3.50 GAA and .886 SV%.
-The Purple's power play was just 3-17 (17.6%) against the Lakers.
-Branden Piku, Johnny Druskinis, and Ryan Beck are tied for the team lead with four points against St. Thomas. Rorke Applebee tallied a 3.88 GAA and .900 SV% against
the Purple this season.
PLAYOFF HISTORY AGAINST LAKE STATE
-This is the first time since the Lakers upset the Tommies in the CCHA Quarterfinals back in 2024 that these two teams have met in the playoffs.
-Lake State took game one 4-1, dropped game two 4-2, and scored with seven seconds remaining in game three to win 3-2.
TOMMIE HOCKEY'S IRON MAN
Luc Laylin played in his 145th straight game as a Tommie on Saturday night against Bemidji State last week. The senior surpassed Ethan Gauer for the all-time program record against Augustana (DIII days included). Luc is sixth in DI program history with 27 goals, eighth with 25 assists, sixth with 52 points, and 12th with 28 blocks. He played in a career-high 38 games last season and has played in all 34 games so far this season.
MASON POOLMAN LATEST TO 100 GAMES
Mason Poolman hit a milestone on Saturday night when he became the 10th Tommie in DI program history to play in his 100th game. He joins: Luc Laylin, Ethan Gauer, Ryan O'Neill, Lucas Wahlin, Quinton Pepper, Jake Braccini, Carson Peters, Luke Manning, and Cole Miller.
THE BELIEVER CLASS
The Tommies' senior class was celebrated on Senior Night two weekends ago. The whole class is made up of nine players with seven coming from the freshman class of 2022-23. Together the seven "believers" (Lucas Wahlin, Ryan O'Neill, Quinton Pepper, Jake Braccini, Luc Laylin, Carson Peters, and Aaron Trotter) have combined for:
-63-68-14 overall record
-49-42-11 CCHA record
-Two 2nd place finishes, and a 3rd place finish in the CCHA and a trip to the Mason Cup Final
-7 wins over nationally ranked opponents
-142 goals, 235 assists, and 377 points in 145 games
-33 goalie wins, 2381 saves, and four shutouts
ELITE COMPANY
Lucas Wahlin is one of only five active players in the country with at least three 30-point seasons to his name. Michigan's T.J. Hughes has done it in each of his four years, while Northeastern's Dylan Hryckowian, Arizona State's Cruz Lucius, and Quinnipiac's Jeremy Wilmer have done it three times. – courtesy of College Hockey Inc.'s Weekly Notebook
GRAY JERSEY SUCCESS
The Tommies debuted their alternate gray uniforms on October 12th in a 5-2 loss against then #10 North Dakota. They have not been defeated since with a 4-0-0 record. Stats in their four games since the debut: 5.5 goals per game, 2.5 goals allowed per game, 31 PP%, 81 PK%, +1 in first period, +6 in second, +5 in third. The Tommies are 7-4-2 in the 13 games since they last wore the grays. Alex Gaffney and Lucas Wahlin lead with nine points and a +8 rating in gray. Both Will Ingemann and Carsen Musser are 2-0-0 with a 2.50 GAA.
FEBRUARY BLUES
-The Tommies were shutout against Augustana for the first time in 503 days since they were blanked at home by St. Cloud State, 1-0.
-The Purple were 1-3-2 in the year's shortest month. It was the first time since October (2-5-1) that they lost multiple games in a given month (4-1-2 in November, 3-1-0 in December, 8-1-0 in January).
-When St. Thomas heads to the third period with a lead, it is 11-1-2 this season. The one loss came on 10/31 against Minnesota State, the first tie was against Providence on 10/24, and the second tie came on Friday against Augustana.
THEY ALL SCORE GOALS
The Tommies have gotten goals from 18 different players this season. Lucas Wahlin's 19 goals lead the way, he is one goal away from tying Liam Malmquist's program-record set last season. Nathan Pilling leads the team with six power play goals. Five players have tallied shorthanded goals, while Gaffney and Pilling lead the team with three. Van Vliet and Wahlin also lead with three game-winners. Gaffney, Pilling, and Hayes Hundley have two game-winning tallies.
POINTS PARITY
-The Tommies have had a different player lead them in points each of their first five seasons of DI play.
- Christiano Versich in 2021-22 (15 points)
- Mack Byers in 2022-23 (26 points)
- Lucas Wahlin in 2023-24 (30 points)
- Liam Malmquist in 2024-25 (45 points)
- Alex Gaffney through 34 games in 2025-26 (37 points)
LUCAS WAHLIN – CCHA STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) recognizes outstanding achievement both on and off the ice through its annual Student-Athlete of the Year Award. Lucas Wahlin is the latest recipient of this prestigious honor for the 2025-26 season.
A business administrative major with a minor in sports management, Wahlin carries an impressive 3.85 cumulative grade point average. He has earned Dean's List recognition every semester and exemplifies academic excellence while balancing the demands of DI hockey. His dedication in the classroom mirrors his discipline on the ice, consistently demonstrating leadership, engagement, and respect.
A third-year captain for St. Thomas, Wahlin has led the Tommies through a critical period of growth. His leadership helped establish the cultural foundation of Tommie hockey, one built on brotherhood and relentless compete.
Head coach, Rico Blasi had this to say about Wahlin, "Lucas embodies our culture on and off the ice. His ability to navigate his rigorous coursework while continuing to lead our team is impressive."
In the community, Wahlin is equally impactful. He volunteers with a local hockey club during J-terms and summers, introducing young athletes to the sport. He organizes and runs summer shooting clinics for youth players and recently spoke at the Minnesota Wild Leadership Summit, sharing insights with aspiring student-athletes about leadership and balancing athletics with academics. Wahlin also mobilized his teammates to serve as volunteer readers at JFK Elementary, supporting students working to improve their literacy skills.
On the ice, Wahlin's accomplishments are second-to-none. He is the St. Thomas DI program's all-time leader in goals, assists, and points. He became the first Tommie to reach both 100 points and 50 career goals at the DI level. This season he leads the CCHA with 18 goals and is the conference's all-time leader in points. He recently reached 30 points in a season for the third time in his career, a program best.
A two-time CCHA Forward of the Month and four-time Forward of the Week honoree, Wahlin has consistently been recognized for his excellence. His sustained performance, leadership, and sportsmanship embody the standards the CCHA Student-Athlete of the Year Award was created to honor.
Lucas Wahlin exemplifies the highest ideals of a CCHA student-athlete, excelling academically, leading competitively, serving selflessly, and fostering a culture of excellence both on and off the ice.
WAHLIN FOR HOBEY
Lucas Wahlin is one of the best players in the nation and has been for a couple of seasons now. The third-year captain is in his final year with the Tommies and is the sole nominee for the Hobey Baker Award from St. Thomas. Wahlin has been the foundation for the Tommies during their rise to becoming one of the best programs in the country with production on the ice and an unwavering ability to lead off the ice. The former NA3HL forward has improved relentlessly across his four seasons of college hockey. This season he became the first Tommie in DI program history to surpass 100 points (123 now) and 50 goals (53 now). He is the all-time leader in the "new" CCHA in goals and points. Nationally he ranks 10th with .63 goals per game and 19 total goals and 24th in points per game (1.13).
464 FOR BLASI
-Head coach, Rico Blasi, won his 450th game on Tuesday, November 11 against St. Cloud State. The now 25-year head coach currently sits 22nd all-time and fourth among active head coaches. His 464 career wins are 21st all-time, four from Joe Marsh in 20th, and eight from Don Vaughan in 19th. Blasi is the fourth winningest among active head coaches.
100 FOR WAHLIN
-Lucas Wahlin became the first Tommie to score 100 career points after his three-point burst against the St. Cloud State Huskies on Tuesday, November 11. The Tommie captain did so in 109 games at a 0.92 points per game pace.
-25 different players either assisted on a Wahlin goal or scored a goal off a Wahlin assist over the course of the last four seasons.
-Liam Malmquist led each category with 12 assists on Wahlin goals and 15 goals off Wahlin assists.
-At the present day, he has recorded 115 points, 34 more than the next closest Tommie.
CURRENT TOMMIES AGAINST LAKE SUPERIOR STATE
-Lucas Wahlin – 8G-9A-17P
-Luc Laylin – 2G-9A-11P
-Ryan O'Neill – 2G-9A-11P
-Nathan Pilling – 4G-6A-10P
-Jake Braccini – 6G-2A-8P
-Lucas Van Vliet – 3G-4A-7P
-Chase Cheslock – 1G-5A-6P
-Mason Poolman – 0G-5A-5P
-Quinton Pepper – 2G-2A-4P
-Charlie Schoen – 2G-2A-4P
-Bauer Berry – 1G-2A-3P
-Cole Miller – 0G-3A-3P
-Dylan Godbout – 0G-2A-2P
-Casy Laylin – 0G-2A-2P
-Alex Gaffney – 0G-2A-2P
-Hayes Hundley – 0G-2A-2P
-Caige Sterzer – 1G-1A-2P
-Jase Sofo – 1G-0A-1P
-Carson Peters – 0G-1A-1P
-Aaron Trotter – 7-5-1, 344 saves, 27 GA, 2.11 GAA, .927 SV%, 1 assist
-Carsen Musser – 1-0-0, 31 saves, 68 mins, 4 GA, 3.52 GAA, .886 SV%
MILESTONE WATCH
-Career Points
- Ryan O'Neill is 9 away from 100
- Lucas Wahlin is two away from 75
- Ryan O'Neill is four away from 75
- Aaron Trotter is the next closest to 100 games played with 92. He is the only goalie in the top 25 during the Tommies' DI era.
2025-26 CCHA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
-Nathan Pilling Rookie of the Week (2/9/26)
-Aaron Trotter Goaltender of the Week (1/27/26)
-Nathan Pilling Rookie of the Week (1/27/26)
-Lucas Van Vliet Rookie of the Week (1/20/26)
-Lucas Wahlin Forward of the Week (1/20/26)
-Hayes Hundley Rookie of the Week (1/4/26)
-Lucas Wahlin Forward of the Week (12/15/25)
-Nathan Pilling Rookie of the Week (12/8/25)
-Carsen Musser Goaltender of the Week (12/8/25)
-Lucas Van Vliet Rookie of the Week (12/1/25)
-Nick Williams Defenseman of the Week (12/1/25)
-Lucas Van Vliet Rookie of the Week (11/23/25)
-Alex Gaffney Forward of the Week (10/20/25)
-Chase Cheslock Defenseman of the Week (10/6/25)
2025-26 CCHA PLAYERS OF THE MONTH
-Lucas Wahlin Forward of the Month (2/2/26)
-Lucas Van Vliet Rookie of the Month (2/2/26)
-Carsen Musser Goaltender of the Month (1/5/26)
-Chase Cheslock Defenseman of the Month (1/5/26)
-Alex Gaffney Forward of the Month (11/3/25)
FEBRUARY RECAP
-1-3-2, -8 goal differential
-Took two points from the Bemidji State Beavers with a shootout win in their game two 2-2 tie after dropping game one in regulation, 3-1.
-Nabbed just one point at home against #18 Augustana with a 3-3 SOL in game one and 4-0 loss in game two, the Tommies first shuout loss in 503 days
-Took two of six points from Bowling Green with a 3-2 OT win and 3-1 regulation loss
-Nathan Pilling led the Tommies with three goals
-Pilling, Alex Gaffney, and Lucas Wahlin each led the team with four points
-Aaron Trotter was 0-2-0 with a 3.16 GAA and .864 SV%
-Carsen Musser was 1-1-2 with a 2.40 GAA and .905 SV%
-The Toms were 5-19 on the power play (26.3%) and 12-16 (75%) on the penalty kill.
JANUARY RECAP
-8-1-0, +22 goal differential
-Split with the national ranked Michigan Tech Huskies with a 4-2 win in game one and 4-3 loss in game two
-Swept Lake Superior State to win the season series, 3-1-0 with a 7-4 comeback win and a dominant 5-0 victory.
-Swept Bemidji State for the first time in program history with a 5-1 win on Friday and 3-2 win on Saturday.
-Completed the season series with a 4-2 win over Minnesota State on the road. The Tommies are now 2-0 in Mankato since the Mason Cup Final loss.
-Swept Ferris State in a pair of high scoring affairs (5-3 and 8-4)
-Jake Braccini led the Tommies with eight goals
-Lucas Van Vliet's 15 points paced the Purple
-Aaron Trotter was 5-1-0 with a 1.88 GAA and .923 SV%
-Carsen Musser was 2-0-0 with a 3.27 GAA and .848 SV%
-Will Ingemann was 1-0-0 with a 4.00 GAA and .789 SV%
-The Toms were 10-38 (26.3%) on the power play and 32-35 (91.4%) on the penalty kill.
DECEMBER RECAP
-3-1-0, +4 goal differential
-Swept the Northern Michigan Wildcats on the road, 2-0 and 4-3.
-Split with the Lake State Lakers on home ice. Took game two 4-1 after dropping the opener, 5-3.
-Lucas Wahlin owned December with five goals while Nathan Pilling and Chase Cheslock led the way with six points a piece.
-Carsen Musser was 3-0-0 with a 1.34 GAA and .945 SV%
-Aaron Trotter was 0-1-0 with a 5.20 GAA and .839 SV%
-The Toms were 3-15 (20%) on the power play and 8-11 (73%) on the penalty kill.
NOVEMBER RECAP
-4-1-2, +7 goal differential
-Took five of six points from the Michigan Tech Huskies with a 3-3 shootout win and 2-1 regulation win.
-Came back from down 2-0 to force overtime in game one against Bowling Green and then dominated in game two, 6-2.
-Came back from down 1-0, 3-1, and 4-3 to tie the Vikings, 4-4. The Tommies ultimately fell in the shootout to earn one conference point in hostile territory.
-Finished off their season series with St. Cloud State on Tuesday to sweep the Huskies, 4-3 and 3-1.
-Took down the 18th ranked Mavericks, 4-3 in overtime on the road. Nathan Pilling notched his second game winner of the season.
-Alex Gaffney's six goals and 10 points led the way.
-Will Ingemann was 2-0-1 with a 2.57 GAA and .914 SV%.
-Aaron Trotter was 1-1-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .922 SV%
-Carsen Musser is 1-0-1 with a 2.44 GAA and .922 SV%
-The Toms were 3-25 (12%) on the power play and 18-24 (75%) on the penalty kill.
OCTOBER RECAP
-2-5-1, -7 goal differential
-Won the first game of the season over St. Cloud State on the road, Nathan Pilling scored the game winning goal.
-Dropped a pair to North Dakota, 6-2 and 5-2.
-Split the road series with Air Force, with an 11-2 win in game one and a 6-2 loss in game two.
-Tied on night one at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena and then won the shootout against #15 Providence before dropping game two 7-4.
-Lost to open CCHA play against Mankato, 3-1 at home.
-Alex Gaffney led the Tommies with 11 points (5G-6A) in October.
-Carsen Musser was 1-4-0 with a 5.25 GAA and .831 SV%.
-Aaron Trotter was 1-0-1 with a 2.24 GAA and .929 SV% .
-Will Ingemann was 0-1-0 with a 2.64 GAA and .875 SV%.
-The Toms are 6-31 (19.4%) on the power play and 20-27 (74%) on the penalty kill.
DI SCORING RECORD HOLDERS
-Lucas Wahlin (54), Cooper Gay (35, 2022-25), and Jake Braccini (33) round out the top three in DI goals scored.
-Lucas Wahlin (127), Ryan O'Neill (91), and Liam Malmquist (72, 2023-25) make up the top three in career points.
NHL DEVELOPMENT CAMPS
-Bauer Berry (Edmonton Oilers)
-Chase Cheslock (New Jersey Devils)
-Carsen Musser (Utah Mammoth)
-Nathan Pilling (Ottawa Senators)
-Lucas Van Vliet (Vegas Golden Knights)
-Lucas Wahlin (Colorado Avalanche)
NHL DRAFT PICKS
-Bauer Berry was selected as the 218th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL draft by the Edmonton Oilers.
-Chase Cheslock was selected as the 154th overall pick of the 2023 NHL draft by the New Jersey Devils and was the first drafted Tommie to commit to the program out of high school.
-Carsen Musser was selected as the 166th overall pick of the 2023 NHL draft by the Utah Mammoth.
-Lucas Van Vliet was selected as the 197th overall pick of the 2024 NHL draft by the Vegas Golden Knights.
PRESEASON PUB
-The Tommies were picked to finish in first place in the CCHA coaches' poll for the second consecutive season earlier in September.
-They were also selected second in the media poll for the second year in a row.
-Lucas Wahlin was once again named Preseason Player of the Year by the coaches after his 17-24—41 point season last year. The now senior was selected as team captain for the third year running last week.
-Newcomer, Nathan Pilling, was named Preseason Rookie of the Year by the conference coaches. He skated in 218 total games across four seasons in the WHL for the Moose Jaw Warriors, Edmonton Oil Kings, and Seattle Thunderbirds… scored 70 career goals, added 56 career assists, and tallied 126 total points in the WHL… coming off a career-best season as assistant captain with the Thunderbirds with 37 goals, 30 assists, and 67 points in 67 games in 2024-25.
COACH BLASI
-Entering fifth season for St. Thomas
-During his 20-year tenure at Miami, 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 Alex Martinez, Jeff Zatkoff, Blake Coleman, and Riley Smith.
-His 464-410-90 record has him 21st all-time and 4th among active head coaches.
NICE TO MEET YA
St. Thomas returned just 13 players from its breakthrough 2024-25 squad. The Tommies welcome in 15 newcomers into the fold, 10 freshman and five transfers.
-Freshmen
- Bauer Berry | 6-4 | Defenseman | Grand Forks, N.D. | Muskegon (USHL)
- Josh Giuliani | 6-1 | Forward | Plymouth, Minn. | Dubuque (USHL)
- Hayes Hundley | 6-3 | Defenseman | Upper Arlington, Ohio | Fargo (USHL)
- Will Ingemann | 5-11 | Goaltender | Plymouth, Minn. | Penticton (BCHL)
- Colton Jamieson | 6-0 | Defenseman | Hudson, Wis. | Madison (USHL)
- Attila Lippai | 5-9 | Forward | St. Paul, Minn. | Tri-City (USHL)
- Nathan Pilling | 6-4 | Forward | Calgary, Alta. | Seattle (WHL)
- Sam Ranallo | 5-10 | Forward | Rogers, Minn. | Cranbrook (BCHL)
- Luke Schelter | 6-2 | Forward | Centennial, Colo. | Fargo (USHL)
- Lucas Van Vliet | 6-2 | Forward | Livonia, Mich. | Dubuque (USHL)
- Alex Gaffney | 5-9 | Forward | West Orange, N.J. | Harvard (NCAA)
- Dylan Godbout | 5-11 | Forward | Woodbury, Minn. | Ohio State (NCAA)
- Carsen Musser | 6-4 | Goaltender | Fairmont, Minn. | Colorado (NCAA)
- Charlie Schoen | 5-10 | Forward | Andover, Minn. | Arizona State (NCAA)
- Nick Williams | 5-9 | Defenseman | Edina, Minn, | Michigan Tech (NCAA)
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/ Men's HockeyTommie Men's Hockey 2025 Intro Video
Wednesday, November 12
Press 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
