The University of St. Thomas is making big strides in their quest to national relevance as a new Division I program. Above, Jake Braccini (Buffalo, MN) tries to outpace a Gopher defender. PHOTO BY NICK WOSIKA/UST ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
Making Strides
Tommies look to elevate program to national relevance
by Dain Solberg, Let’s Play Hockey
St. Paul, Minn.– The University of St. Thomas men’s hockey program has made great strides since its inaugural season in 2021-22. Last season they defeated No. 8 St Cloud State University in an overtime thriller to open the year. A week later, the Tommies took the No. 2 ranked University of Minnesota Golden Gophers to overtime in front of a packed Xcel Energy Center, falling 6-5 courtesy of a Jimmy Snuggerud snipe.
This season, UST returns leading scorers Lucas Wahlin (Woodbury, Minn./Lincoln/USHL), Liam Malmquist (Edina, Minn./Wisconsin/ BIG) and Ryan O’Neil (Roseville, Minn./St. Cloud/ NAHL), The three forwards combined for 29 goals and 54 assists in 108 games. In net, the Tommies return junior Jake Sibell (Isanti, Minn./Niagara/Atlantic Hockey) and sophomore Aaron Trotter (Victoria, B.C./ Prince George/ BCHL), UST sophomore netminder Max Prazma (Calgary, Alberta/Calgary Canucks/AJHL) could also see the crease this season after backing up both Trotter and Sibell.
Trotter and Sibell split time in 2023-24 and recorded an overall goals against average (GAA) of 2.81 and a save percentage of .905. Prazma came to St. Paul courtesy of the Calgary Canucks who are a member of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. While in juniors, Prazma collected a 3.65 GAA and .899 save percentage with the Canucks. This season would be Prazma’s first start in front of the Tommie Faithful.
Going into the 2024-25 campaign the Purple and White will lose five skaters which include James Marooney (Chaska, Minn./Ohio State/ BIG), Noah Prokop (Highlands Ranch, Colo./ Colorado College/ NCHC), Luke Manning (Stillwater, Minn./ Air Force/ Atlantic Hockey), Mack Byers (Long Lake, Minn./ Northern Michigan/ CCHA), Ryder Donovan (Duluth, Minn./ Wisconsin/ BIG).
Lucas Wahlin returns along with several other veteran players as the Tommies look to take another step forward into their emergence as a premiere Division I hockey program. PHOTO BY NICK WOSIKA/UST ATHLETIC DEPARTMENTKeys to Success for the Purple and White
Veteran Goaltending
Trotter and Sibell will both return to the crease this season. Sibell came to St Paul from Niagara University in the Atlantic Hockey Conference via the transfer portal. Trotter joined UST following a season with the Prince George Cougars who is a member of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL).
Explosive Offense
A year ago, Cooper Gay (Hanover, Minn./Fargo/ USHL), Byers, and Wahlin anchored the forward core of the Tommies first line. The three recorded 71 points before Gay went down with a season ending injury late into his sophomore campaign. The likes of Luc Laylin (St. Michael, Minn./Prince George/ BCHL) stepped up recording 15 points in 37 games for UST.
Buy In Mentality
The University of St Thomas Hockey team under former Miami of Ohio Redhawk coach Rico Blasi sparked two mottos one being “The Brotherhood” and the other being known as “Fides In Fratrem”, originally in the Central Collegiate Hockey Conference (CCHA) the ‘Toms will join the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) beginning next season with new teams such as Arizona State.
Veteran Leadership, Playing through Adversity
The Purple will not have a freshman on the roster to begin the 2024-25 season. This season’s roster will include just seven sophomores, 10 juniors, and six seniors (two seniors being goaltenders). Gauer is the one senior that spent his first season of college hockey at NCAA Division I Alaska Anchorage before transferring to Bemidji State University of the Central Collegiate Hockey Conference (CCHA). Throughout his collegiate career, Gauer has racked up five goals and 20 assists in 108 games for all three institutions.
Key Losses to Graduation
Mack Byers, forward (31 games, 13 goals, eight assists, one game winning goal)
Ryder Donovan, forward (3 games, one goal, no assists, one game winning goal)
Noah Prokop, forward (27 games, three goals, five assists, two game winning goals)
Luke Manning, forward (37 games, seven goals, six assists, zero game winning goals)
James Marooney, defenseman (15 games, zero goals, five assists, zero game winning goals)
2023-24 Scoring Breakdown-
Lucas Wahlin- 12 goals
Liam Malmquist- 10 goals
Ryan O’Neill- 7 goals
Non- Conference Schedule
Oct 5- Manitoba (Exhibition)
Oct 11-12- Vermont
Oct 25-26- @ Minnesota
Nov 1-2- Augustana
Dec 29- @ St Cloud State
Jan 3-4- @ Lindenwood
