First-year winger Lucas Wahlin scored two goals in the Tommies 3-1 win over the Bemidji State Beavers on Friday night.

The Tommies (10-20-2, 9-13-2 CCHA) downed the Beavers (13-14-5, 11-10-3 ) after three periods of consistent play, crafty goaltending, and 13 blocked shots. Not only that, this was the first home victory against a Minnesotan D1 team in St. Thomas history.

They had come close on several occasions, against St. Cloud State, and Minnesota State Mankato, but tonight was the night they finally got it done.

Going into tonight’s game, the Tommies had played the Beavers twice this season, coming out with a loss in the first game, and a tie in the second.

The Tommies’ first goal was blink-and-you’ll-miss-it, as Wahlin scored only 17 seconds into the game… Wahlin took advantage of a great rebound, and a wide-open net provided after a breakaway by junior center, Mack Byers.

“I’ve had some pretty easy goals, but that one’s probably up there. It was a good one,” Wahlin said. “All I was thinking was, ‘don’t miss the net.’”

The Beavers evened the score with 2:39 left to go in the first period, as fifth-year center Ross Armour scored just seconds after a Bemidji State power play expired.

Bemidji State sophomore defenseman, Tony Follmer was sent to the penalty box for making intentional contact to the head, giving St. Thomas a rare four-minute power play in the final minute of the first period, on which the Tommies would come away without a goal.

Several skillful saves by first-year goalie Aaron Trotter, and some luck from the left goalpost helped the Tommies kill off a Bemidji State power play early in the second. Trotter ended with 25 saves on the night.

The Tommies went stride-for-stride with the Beavers in the second period, and were rewarded when first-year winger Cooper Gay cashed in, from the crease, with his first goal in 19 games.

“It’s not a skill guy’s goal, but it’s my kind of hockey right there,” Gay said. “It felt good to finally get that monkey off my back.”

The Tommies held on to the one-goal lead late into the third period, and coach Rico Blasi called a timeout with 3:12 left to go in the game.

“We just told them, be confident, and make plays.” said Blasi. “We did what we had to do to get them ready for the next three minutes.”

The Beavers pulled their goalie with 1:42 left to go in the game, and the Tommies fought off the extra attacker until Wahlin secured the puck, sending it down ice for an empty-net goal.

St. Thomas closed regulation with a 3-1 lead.

Graduate center Jarrett Lee skated to a referee after going through the post-game handshake line, receiving the last puck used in the game.

“It felt great to give that to Coach in the locker room,” Lee said.

This was the first home victory against a Minnesotan D1 team in St. Thomas history. With the win, the Tommies have now beat every team in the CCHA at least once.

The Tommies have yet to play a non-conference home game against the University of Minnesota (Big Ten) and the University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC).

St. Thomas’ next game is tomorrow, Feb. 25 at St. Thomas Ice Arena at 6:07 p.m. against Bemidji State to wrap up the regular season.

Karl Warner can be reached at warn5356@stthomas.edu.