Tommies punch ticket to Mason Cup semifinals behind Malmquist’s hat trick

St. Thomas men’s hockey topped Ferris State University 4-1 Saturday at home and moved on to the next round of the playoffs. 

The team’s opponent has not been determined. If Augustana University wins Sunday, the Tommies will travel to Sioux Falls. If Augustana loses, the Tommies will host Bowling Green next weekend. In a groundbreaking year for Tommie Athletics, the program added another accolade with its first hockey playoff series win.

“It’s my own personal first playoff win as well. Just to be able to do it in our home barn means a lot more too,” senior goaltender Jake Sibell said. “(To) finally have one on the record books is nice.”

Senior forward Liam Malmquist finished his dominant weekend with a hat trick. Malmquist also became the first player in the D-I era to record 40 points in a season. Junior forward Lucas Wahlin trails closely with 39 points. Both combined for 6 points in Saturday’s game. Malmquist and Wahlin are responsible for almost a third of the points scored by the Tommies this season.

“(Senior forward Matthew Gleason and Malmquist) are very skilled players,” Whalin said. “Matthew works his butt off, Liam’s an extremely skilled player with his hands, his feet and I think I kind of fit in there and kind of compliment their attributes. We’ve been able to build a lot of chemistry.” 

The 2-0 goal for the Tommies could not come in a more fitting way. With only ice in front of them, Malmquist and Wahlin converged in the slot to extend the lead. Malmquist smashed the puck into the top bin to beat the Bulldogs’ graduate goalie Noah West.

“Gave (Malmquist) the puck early, he had the choice to give it back and he found the back of the net. So can’t complain about that,” Wahlin said.

After Malmquist’s third goal, some fans chanted “Liam,” with the same group throwing their hats onto the ice moments later.

After the Tommies’ 7-3 win Friday, Coach Rico Blasi teased that Saturday’s game would probably be the opposite, and he was right. The Tommies slowed down the Bulldogs’ offense throughout most of the game, only allowing a single goal.

“You can’t come out of your game plan because otherwise they’ll expose you. We had to stay structured,” Blasi said. “We started … to grind it down below the tops of the circles a little bit and force their D to make bad decisions.”

With today’s loss, Ferris State coach Bob Daniels said farewell to the bench he managed for the past three decades.

“He’s hockey at Ferris, he’s hockey at Big Rapids. He’s a legend, he’s an icon and somebody we’re certainly gonna miss,” Ferris State Assistant Athletics Director Tim Blashill said.

Reflecting after the game, Daniels said the feeling of retirement has not sunken in yet.

“It just feels like an end to another year … I’m sure it will at some point. Maybe next year when I’m in Florida this time of the year. Then it’ll probably sink in a positive way,” Daniels said.

Blasi also weighed in on competing against Daniels.

“I don’t have words to say how much of an impact he’s had on college hockey … Some of my best friends that I’ve coached with, played for Bob and I know what he means to them,” Blasi said. “First class all the way.”

The CCHA playoff bracket is now down to three teams, with one matchup still to be determined.

Mankato State and Bowling Green swept their respective series at home. Bemidji State and Augustana are the two remaining teams.

“It doesn’t even matter what barn we’re in. Even if we are away next weekend, we’re going to come in with the same attitude that we’re just going to dominate anybody,” Sibell said.

Juan Del Valle can be reached at delv9625@stthomas.edu.