General College Information
School: University of St. Thomas
Founded:  1885
location:  St Paul
Enrollment  5,127 undergrad/5,309 graduate
President:  Rev Dennis Dease
Athletic Director:  Steve Fritz
Team Niclmamc:   Tomnues
Colors:  Purple & Gray

| College | Staff | SID | '97-98 | '98-99 | Team | Returners | Newcomers | Lost | Outlook | Roster | Top |

Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Terry Skrypek -- starting 12th season, 207-95-18 (.676)

| College | Staff | SID | '97-98 | '98-99 | Team | Returners | Newcomers | Lost | Outlook | Roster | Top |

SID Information
Sports Information
S.I.D:  Gene McGivern
Office Phone:  (651) 962-5903
Home Phone: (651) 686-6399
Fax::  (651) 962-5928
E-Mail Address:   ejmcgivern@stthomas.edu |
Web site:   http://tigger.stthomas.edu/ATPEW/

| College | Staff | SID | '97-98 | '98-99 | Team | Returners | Newcomers | Lost | Outlook | Roster | Top |

 1997-98 game by game

        1997-98 Highlights:
· Reached MIAC playoff finals for 12th time in 13 years (lost 5-4, 4-2 to
Augsburg in finals)
· Went 9-0-1 last 10 regular-season matches, shared MIAC title with Augsburg
· Won MIAC Thanksgiving tourney for fifth year in row
· Went 9-1-1 on home ice at Fairgrounds Coliseum
·  Was 3-0 vs. St. Johns, 3-1 vs. Wisconsin schools, and 1-1 vs. Air Force
· Allowed two or less goals in 15 of 29 games
· Coach Terry Skrypek recorded his 200th college coaching win
·  Extended streak of not being swept in MIAC regular-season series to 120 (15
years)
 

| College | Staff | SID | '97-98 | '98-99 | Team | Returners | Newcomers | Lost | Outlook | Roster | Top |

1998-99 Schedule
1998 - 1999 Schedule
Date Opponent Site Time  Results...
Tue Nov 10 UW-Stout Away 7 p.m.
Fri Nov 13-14 Concordia-Moorhead Home 7 p.m., 2 p.m.
Sat Nov 28-29 Bemidji State Away 7 p.m.
Fri Dec 4 Gustavus Away 7 p.m.
Sat Dec 5 Gustavus Home 7 p.m.
Tue Dec 8 UW Superior Away 7 p.m.
Fri Dec 11 Bethel Home 7 p.m.
Sat Dec 12 Bethel U of M 7 p.m.
Tue Dec 29 UW River Falls Aldrich TBA
Wed Dec 30 UW Stevens Point Aldrich TBA
Fri Jan 1 St. Mary's Away 7:05 p.m.
Sat Jan 9 St. Mary's Home 7 p.m.
Tue Jan 12 UW Superior Home 7 p.m.
Fri Jan 15 Hamline Away 7 p.m.
Sat Jan 16 Hamline Home 7 p.m.
Sat Jan 23-24 U Ala.-Huntsville Away 1 p.m.
Fri Feb 5 St. John's Home 7 p.m.
Sat Feb 6 St. John's Away 2 p.m.
Fri Feb 12 St. Olaf Away 7 p.m.
Sat Feb 13 St. Olaf Home 7 p.m.
Sun Feb 21 Augsburg Home 3 p.m.
Sat Feb 20 Augsburg Away 2 p.m.
Fri Feb 26-27 MIAC Playoff Semis TBA TBA
Fri Mar 5-6 MIAC Playoff Finals TBA TBA
Fri Mar 12-13 NCAA First Round TBA TBA
Fri Mar 19-20 NCAA Finals TBA TBA
 

| College | Staff | SID | '97-98 | '98-99 | Team | Returners | Newcomers | Lost | Outlook | Roster | Top |

Team Information
        1997-98 Highlights:
· Reached MIAC playoff finals for 12th time in 13 years (lost 5-4, 4-2 to
Augsburg in finals)
· Went 9-0-1 last 10 regular-season matches, shared MIAC title with Augsburg
· Won MIAC Thanksgiving tourney for fifth year in row
· Went 9-1-1 on home ice at Fairgrounds Coliseum
·  Was 3-0 vs. St. Johns, 3-1 vs. Wisconsin schools, and 1-1 vs. Air Force
· Allowed two or less goals in 15 of 29 games
· Coach Terry Skrypek recorded his 200th college coaching win
·  Extended streak of not being swept in MIAC regular-season series to 120 (15
years)

| College | Staff | SID | '97-98 | '98-99 | Team | Returners | Newcomers | Lost | Outlook | Roster | Top |
 

       Key Returnes:
·Steve Aronson, Forward, JR (32g-25a/57 in 1997-98; 2-yr. career: 43g-50a/93)
     1st Team West All-American; led NCAA III with five SH goals; Captain
·Brian Bolf, Forward, JR (19g-38a/57)
     Led conference in scoring (37) and assists (26) in 16 MIAC games
·Ryan Hartung, Def., SR (7g-15a/22; 3-yr. Career: 18g-38a/56); Captain
·Ryan Francis, Forward, JR (8g-8a/16; 3-yr. Career:  13g-13a/26)
·Mike McMahon, Def, SO (2g-10a/12)
·Brad Bonine, Forward, SO (8g-6a/14)
·Peter McDonald, Def., JR (1g-4a/5)
·Brad Walz, Forward, SO (0g-5a/5)
·Tavis Gillard, GK, JR (6-2-1, .882 Sv.%, 2.98 GAA)

| College | Staff | SID | '97-98 | '98-99 | Team | Returners | Newcomers | Lost | Outlook | Roster | Top |
 

        Top Newcomers:
·Brian Waldo, Def., JR, Transfer from Colorado College
·Brad Davis, Def., FR, Lakeville HS
·Tom Skrypek, Forward, SO, Attended Notre Dame last year (Coachs nephew)
·Mat Gershader, GK, FR, 1998 Senior A Elite Natl. title team, 1996 Shattuck-St.
Marys grad
 

| College | Staff | SID | '97-98 | '98-99 | Team | Returners | Newcomers | Lost | Outlook | Roster | Top |
 

       Key Losses:
·Justin Gese, Forward, Grad (16g-12a/28 in 1997-98; Career: 68g-58a/126)
·Brad Marshall, Forward, Grad (13g/19a/32; Career: 56g-58a/114)
·Bryan Rasmussen, Forward, Grad (7g-17a/24; Career: 23g-49a/72)
·Nathan Kazek, Forward, Grad (10g-17a/27; Career: 30g-47a/77)
·Chad Villagomez, GK, DNR (14-5-1, .880 sv%, 3.08 GAA; 2-yr. Career: 22-8-1,
.889, 3.04)
·Joe Lolich, Forward, DNR (8g-19a/27; 2-yr.Career: 19g-33a/52)
·Jay Barry, Defense, DNR (0g-6a/6; 2-yr. Career: 0g-12a/12)
·Dan VanHouse, Def., DNR (2g-11a/13; 2yr. Career: 3g-18a/21)
 
 
 

| College | Staff | SID | '97-98 | '98-99 | Team | Returners | Newcomers | Lost | Outlook | Roster | Top |

Season Outlook/Notes:
1998-98 St. Thomas men's hockey preview

        Coming off another MIAC championship season and done with a productive  recruiting season,  St. Thomas coach Terry Skrypek came into this fall excited about his 1998-99 teams outlook.

        Skrypek expected to return the bulk of his players from a 20-7-2 season, led by high-scoring juniors Steve Aronson and Brian Bolf. He had his top two goalies back, his best group of defensive players in several years, and added a couple of promising transfers and some solid freshmen.

        But the preseason has been unusually stressful for the 12th-year UST coach. Three players decided this fall not to compete this season -- No. 1 goalie Chad Villagomez and defensemen Joe Lolich and Jay Barry. And two medical situations not only have sidelined players but are weighing heavily on the emotions of the entire team.

        Junior defenseman Dan Van House fell ill this fall and now is undergoing treatment for a rare form of leukemia. His teammates have dedicated the season to his battle.

        "A day doesnt go by when our guys dont think of Van House," Skrypek said. "We set up a locker for him in the locker room and well have his jersey with us on the bench every game. Hes fighting so hard, our guys are determined to fight as hard this season."

        Another challenge came with news that freshman Nick Oprish of Bloomington Jefferson, a probable starter, was diagnosed with a rare liver disorder. Skrypek said Oprish is definitley out this season and may be unable to resume his career.

        Skrypek said the loss of Villagomez weakens the depth and experience at that key position. "If you dont have solid goaltending, its tough to win," Skrypek said. "If I would have known last spring that he wasnt going to play, I might have recruited differently. As it was our top two goalies had two years of eligibility left, and that kept goalies from looking more seriously at coming to play for us."

        Junior Tavis Gillard played well last season (6-2-1, 2.98 GAA, .882) in 11 games and now must carry the load. Junior Jason Rysdon and newcomer Mat Gershader and last years JV goalie  Bob Goedecker will compete for backup duties.

        The Toms overall defense looks good, even with the absence of Van House, Lolich, Barry and Oprish. Senior captain Ryan Hartung, sophomores Mike McMahon, Brad Walz and Luke Volk, and junior Peter McDonald are proven players. Newcomers adding depth there are freshman Brad Davis of Lakeville, and junior transfer Brian Waldo, who played at Colorado College before a concussion sidelined him midway through 1996-97. Waldo may join the Tommies at midseason.

        The Toms should be explosing on offense, starting with one of the nations best duos in Aronson and Bolf and first-linemate Joey Melquist.
        "Steve Aronson is the most complete hockey player Ive ever coached," Skrypek said. "And Brian Bolf has the best hands of any player Ive seen in our conference in my 11 years of college coaching."
        Skrypek said he has three other trios all capable of No. 2 billing. "We have four solid lines this year," Skrypek said. "We have three different groups capable of being our No. 2 line. Any of those will be as good as any second line on any MIAC team." Providing that depth are juniors Ryan Francis, Eric Darwitz and Andy Disch; sophomores Brad Bonine and Ben Stauffer; and newcomers Josh Edwards, Tom Skrypek (the coachs nephew), Dan Pavel and Matt Caven.

       Skrypeks team will play another rugged schedule, with road series at Division II powers Bemidji State and Alabama-Huntsville; two meetings  vs. UW-Superior; and single games vs. UW-Stout, UW-River Falls and UW-Stevens Point. (This is the Toms bye year for the MIAC Thanksgiving tourney, an event they've  won five years in a row. )

       Skrypek said Augsburg starts 1998-99 as the conferences team to beat because the Auggies return ace goalie Ryan McIntosh, who powered them to the NCAA Final Four last March. "Id say a bunch of teams should be considered a close second," Skrypek said. "St. Thomas, St. Marys Gustavus and St. Johns all look strong.

        UST will try to continue an unusual streak -- in the 15 years that MIAC hockey has played two-game series in the regular season, the Toms have never been swept by a league foe, covering 120 series.
 

| College | Staff | SID | '97-98 | '98-99 | Team | Returners | Newcomers | Lost | Outlook | Roster | Top |

Preseason Roster
No. Name Pos. Yr. Ht Wt Hometown/HS
 1 Tavis Gillard GK JR 5-10 165 Rosemount
 2 Dan Van House Def JR 6-1 200 Blaine/Totino-Grace
 3 Derek Irving For FR 6-1 170 Robbinsdale/Cooper
 4 Mike McMahon Def SO 6-1 185 Bloomington Jefferson
 5 Peter McDonald Def JR 6-1 195 East Grand Forks
 6 Brad Walz Def SO 5-11 190 Bloomington/Kennedy
 7 Ryan Hartung** Def SR 5-10 175 Rosemount
 8 Brad Davis Def FR 6-2 210 Lakeville
 9 Brian Bolf For JR 5-9 160 Hibbing
10 Matt Caven For FR 6-0 170 Mounds View
11 Josh Edwards For FR 6-0 170 Grand Rapids
12 Dan Pavel For FR 5-10 175 North St. Paul
14 Tom Bennett For FR 6-1 190 Edina
15 Ryan Francis For JR 5-8 170 Shoreview/Mounds View
16 Brad Bonine For SO 5-10 185 Apple Valley/Rosemount
17 Luke Volk Def SO 5-8 175 Brooklyn Park/Robbinsdale Cooper
18 Brian Waldo Def JR 6-2 190 Cottage Grove/Park
19 Joey Melquist For SO 5-9 170 Grand Rapids
20 Eric Darwitz For JR 5-8 165 Cottage Grove/Park
21 Andy Disch For JR 6-4 215 Maple Grove/Totino  Grace
22 Tom Skrypek For SO 6-3 205 Minnetonka
23 Steve Aronson** For JR 6-1 205 Minnetonka
24 Ben Stauffer For SO 5-11 190 Edina/St. Louis Park
25 Mike Warner For JR 6-1 185 Roseville
30 Jason Rysdon GK JR 5-9 160 Sioux Falls,
S.D./OGorman
 Kyle Hartung For FR 5-8 165 Rosemount

*-Captain **-Alternate Captains

 Head Coach: Terry Skrypek (12th season) Asst. Coaches: Jeff Boeser, Mark
Lambert, Jon Engfer
 

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