The 2026 offseason marked a pivotal moment for St. Thomas hockey, as the program recorded five incoming transfers and five departures, underscoring the growing influence of the NCAA transfer portal on college hockey.
Coaches Navigate a Shifting Landscape
Coach Bethany Brausen of the women’s team and Coach Rico Blasi of the men’s team say the constant movement forces them to balance developmental goals with the allure of destination programs that promise immediate competition and exposure.
St. Thomas stands out in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association as the only faith‑based private institution to capture seven consecutive national championships, a testament to its sustained excellence despite the portal’s turbulence.
Anderson Arena, a state‑of‑the‑art facility, has become a magnet for prospective transfers, while St. Thomas’s graduate program offers elite players a chance to extend their careers after completing their undergraduate degrees.
Among the newcomers, Rylee Bartz, the nation’s top scorer, arrives from North Dakota and Minnesota, while Liam Malmquist, a leading assist man from Wisconsin, joins the men’s roster; other arrivals hail from Army, Cornell, Princeton, Northern Michigan and Arizona State, illustrating the geographic breadth of the portal’s reach.
Athletics director Phil Esten notes that the volume of players arriving through the portal exceeds those leaving, suggesting that St. Thomas remains an attractive destination despite the competitive pressures of the NCHC, into which the men’s program recently transitioned.
As the program prepares for the upcoming season, the blend of seasoned transfers and home‑grown talent will be tested against a conference that has produced eight of the past ten NCAA champions, making retention as crucial as development.