The St. Thomas men’s hockey team punched their ticket to their first Division I conference championship game Saturday night, defeating Bowling Green 3-1 in Mendota Heights.

St. Thomas will play Minnesota State in the CCHA conference final next Friday, with the Mason Cup on the line.

Senior goaltender Jake Sibell saved 30 of the 31 shots he saw, and transfer forward Liam Malmquist scored the game winning goal with twelve minutes to go in the third period.

It was Sibell’s third playoff victory this year, and Malmquist’s 19th goal of the season.

The Tommies remain ineligible to compete in the NCAA’s national tournament until next season, even if they win the CCHA tournament next Friday night.

There is no automatic bid for the Tommies to earn, as the NCAA’s D-I transition ban does not lift for St. Thomas until next season.