St. Thomas men’s hockey ties their first game at the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena

Senior forward Lucas Wahlin usually sits in the concourse, closes his mind and visualizes the game. He couldn’t Friday night. Half of the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena was filled an hour before the game. 

Although St. Thomas and Providence tied 2-2, the Tommies had a reason to celebrate after winning an exhibition shootout. Wahlin, who’s part of the first D-I recruitment class, scored to clinch it. The arena stood quiet as the only sound was coming from Wahlin’s stick grazing the ice. He dribbled around the goalie and hit the net. 

“(The arena) was unbelievable. It was something you dream of, so I loved it,” Wahlin said. 

People lined up just outside the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena two hours before the start of the men’s game. The line extended through the plaza. Others gathered around small tables by the Schoenecker Center.

Inside the arena, chants started when Lee and Penny Anderson walked to the middle circle for an honorary puck drop. The student section yelled “Penny, Penny, Penny.” White commemorative towels with lights waved across the rink.

After two years and 10 months of anticipation, college hockey finally has a home on the St. Thomas campus.

“Especially with today’s game there’s so many distractions but we’ve played some big boy games. We played at the (Grand Casino Arena), we’ve played at the Ralph (Engelstad Arena),” Wahlin said. “You learn from those early games and you grow from them.”

Shortly after the game ended, the players gathered in the middle circle. They eyed the student section that had been buzzing all night long. The players sprinted and crashed into the boards, celebrating with the other students. 

“I almost thought the glass was gonna come down piling down on us,” Wahlin said. “We owed it to the fans.”

First-year forward Nathan Pilling scored the first goal of the game late in the first period on a Providence power play. Pilling broke through, skating with no defender nearby and buried the puck. After scoring, Pilling bumped the glass in front of the student section. The stands shook as the arena celebrated.

“It’s pretty special. You know, just being here for the past few months. All the excitement about this building and this program … I’m super grateful to have a slice of that history,” Pilling said.

Pilling is one of three players in Division I to score at least two shorthanded goals this season.

“Just trying to skate as fast as I can. Fortunate bounce,” Pilling said about his goal.

First-year forward Lucas Van Vliet scored the 2-0 goal for the Tommies early in the second period, his first collegiate goal. 

The Friars stormed back in the third period, scoring two goals in the frame and forcing overtime.

In overtime, both teams exchanged scoring chances but the score didn’t change. 

Per NCAA non-conference game rules, the game ended in a tie, but both teams agreed to an exhibition shootout. 

The Tommies sent senior forward Jake Braccini, Van Vliet and Wahlin. Van Vliet and Wahlin scored against Providence senior goaltender Philip Svedeback.

St. Thomas goaltender Aaron Trotter blocked all three Providence attempts. The student section chanted “Trotter, Trotter, Trotter” as the goalie prepared for the shootout.

“I thought he was great. He was tracking the puck really well. He had a really good week of practice, so we felt really confident,” coach Rico Blasi said.

The Tommies face the Friars on Saturday to close the weekend series. The game starts at 7:07 p.m.

“What a crowd. Our student section was unbelievable. Our fanbase, the energy in the building. Just couldn’t be more grateful for all the people that made this happen,” Blasi said.

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