Junior forward Lucas Wahlin was named conference preseason player of the year Monday.
Wahlin split first place for preseason player of the year with Michigan Tech’s Isaac Gordon and Lake Superior State’s Connor Milburn, as voted by the Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s coaches.
The Woodbury native was also the media’s sole player of the year. He was the only Tommie to receive a preseason all-conference nod.
Wahlin was St. Thomas’ leading scorer with 30 points. His 20 points in CCHA play were the seventh most in the conference and included eight goals and 12 assists. His only teammate with more in conference play was junior forward Ryan O’Neill.
His five points – on one goal and four assists – in the 7-1 victory over Ferris State on Dec. 2, 2023 was the most by any conference player in a single game last season. He also posted a +6 plus-minus and 86 shots – the second most in the conference
The Tommies posted a 15-20-2 overall and 12-11-1 conference record before their season ended in a three-game series against Lake Superior State.
St. Thomas was picked to finish first in the CCHA coaches’ preseason poll.
The team will begin its season against the St. Cloud State Huskies Saturday, Oct. 6 at St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights.
The St. Thomas women’s hockey team was picked sixth in the their conference poll.
The Tommies ended the regular season 10-26-1 and 4-23-1 in WCHA play, putting them seventh out of the eight teams.
The team lost to the NCAA-runner-up University of Wisconsin in two straight games in the first round of the playoffs. WCHA leader Ohio State University won the national championship.
The Tommies open their season against Post University on Friday, Oct. 4 at St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights.
No Tommies made the preseason all-conference team. Senior defenseman Nicole Vallario was the only player from St. Thomas to receive votes.
2024-25 WCHA Coaches Poll
(Coaches could not vote for their own team. First place votes are in parentheses)
1. Wisconsin (5) 46 points
2. Ohio State (2) 43
3. Minnesota (1) 40
4. Minnesota Duluth 31
5. St. Cloud State 25
6. St. Thomas 17
7. Minnesota State 15
8. Bemidji State 7
Adam Mueller can be reached at muel7541@stthomas.edu.