The St. Thomas men’s hockey team suffered a dramatic 4-3 defeat against the Augustana Vikings on March 1, 2024, at Anderson Arena. The Tommies, ranked 15th nationally, appeared to be on track to secure a vital win in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) race, leading 3-1 midway through the third period. However, the 18th-ranked Vikings rallied late, scoring two goals in the final minutes, including one with just over five minutes remaining, and ultimately clinched victory in a shootout following three-on-three overtime.
St. Thomas seemed poised to take control of the CCHA regular season championship as they approached the final stretch of the season. With this loss, the Tommies moved into a tie for first place with Michigan Tech, who did not compete that night. The defeat left a somber mood in the St. Thomas locker room.
“We were just too loose,” said St. Thomas head coach Rico Blasi following the game. “That’s a good hockey team. I thought it was a good game for 55 minutes, and then we lost our focus and they made us pay.”
The Vikings, displaying a renewed intensity in the closing stages, capitalized on the Tommies’ lapse in concentration. Team captain Lucas Wahlin acknowledged the shift in momentum that favored the Vikings. “We didn’t play a full 60 minutes,” Wahlin said. “Once the momentum swings in the other team’s favor, it’s often hard to get it back.”
The turning point came in the third period when Augustana, desperate to stay in contention, seized the opportunity to close the gap. With the Tommies leading 3-1, the Vikings scored their first goal to make it 3-2, igniting their comeback. Wahlin reflected on the team’s inability to maintain their early lead, stating, “We had the puck on our stick a couple of times and we just didn’t make the play. We didn’t execute.”
St. Thomas initially fell behind when Augustana scored first in the opening period. However, they rallied in the second period, netting two goals to take a 2-1 lead. Alexandros Gaffney scored his 17th goal of the season after capitalizing on a turnover at 6:07 in the second. The Tommies extended their lead when Hayes Hundley scored his sixth goal of the season on a wrist shot from the slot.
The Tommies built on their momentum early in the third period when Wahlin scored on a power play at 6:07, pushing the score to 3-1. At that moment, it appeared the Tommies would eliminate Augustana’s chances in the tight race for the CCHA title.
Now, with just one point separating the teams in the standings, Augustana is poised to challenge the Tommies again in their next encounter. As St. Thomas prepares for their weekend finale, Coach Blasi emphasized the importance of capitalizing on their strong performance in the first 55 minutes. “We have to take the first 55 minutes and finish the job,” he said.
Wahlin echoed the sentiment, stating, “It’s a must win.” The upcoming game promises to be crucial as both teams vie for a better position in the CCHA standings. The intensity of the competition is expected to ramp up as the season approaches its conclusion.