St. Thomas men’s hockey plays its first game against No. 16 St. Cloud State at 5:07 p.m. Sunday at St. Thomas Ice Arena.
The Tommies received 53 votes in U.S. College Hockey Online’s September poll, putting them just outside the top 20 nationally.
“For us, in our locker room and in our program, nothing really changes. We go to work, we do what we need to do, we got to get better every day,” coach Rico Blasi said.
The team was also picked to win the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in the conference’s preseason poll on Sept. 12.
“I think the experience that our team went through last year, just being in first place for most of the year, having different pressures, it’s a little bit different. When we started the program nobody took us serious. You’re always the underdog,” Blasi said, “It’s a little bit of a different feeling going into games and all of a sudden you’re in first place.”
St. Thomas is led by Lucas Wahlin, who received the nod for preseason player of the year in the same CCHA poll. Wahlin led the team with 30 points overall and was second among the Tommies in conference play with 20.
“I think Lucas Walin is our captain. I’ve described him as our identity driver. His work habits during the week, on and off the ice, are unmatched. He’s the guy that leads in every aspect of what we do,” Blasi said.
Blasi said he has a new motto to help his players deal with the increased expectations and attention on the program. He got it from the loudspeaker on the London Underground, of all places.
“The announcer says, ‘Mind the gap,’ because they don’t want their passengers to fall between the platform and the subway– the train,” Blasi said, “So we need to mind the gap. Forget about what social media is saying. Forget about what the polls are saying. We got to do our job. Don’t fall in the trap.”
Three skaters joined the team this season from the transfer portal. The graduate duo of forward Ray Christy and defenseman Chase Foley transferred together from Colorado College. They are both familiar faces to St. Thomas Ice Arena as they played at St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights together.
“We have three transfer players that add experience playing in meaningful games, championship games, that leadership ability, especially with Foley and Christy. They’ve been in those situations so they can bring that to our team,” Blasi said.
Junior forward Caige Sterzer came from Lindenwood University where he was the team’s leading scorer with 22 points on eight goals and 14 assists. Blasi said Sterzer adds “size and skill and depth” to the program.
On top of the transfers, the purple and gray recruited four first-years.
“Our young freshmen are exactly that: they’re freshmen. So they’re going to have to navigate their way through, especially, the early part of the season,” Blasi said, “What are games like? What’s the intensity level like? But we have some really good skill so we’re excited about that.”
Blasi said he expects adversity this season.
“You’re always going to have to navigate something early, in-between and late. So, hopefully we can stay grounded in who we are in our culture, make sure that we’re doing the things that we need to do on and off the ice within our culture and our identity. And if we do that, we’re going to be in good shape,” Blasi said.
Adam Mueller can be reached at muel7541@stthomas.edu.