Former NA3HL forward Wahlin makes NCAA DI commitment

Lincoln Stars and former NA3HL forward Lucas Wahlin has announced his commitment to play NCAA Division I hockey for the University of St. Thomas, an NCAA Division I program playing in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA).

The Woodbury, MN native will join the Tommies in the 2022-23 season, 23 minutes from where he fell in love with the game.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Wahlin said. "It’s really exciting for my family, as well. My dad’s a hockey freak; he loves to come to all my games. It’s just big. I have a lot of family members close to home in Minnesota, so they’ll all be able to come to games. They were all shooting me texts and calling me, so it's really exciting."

Wahlin, 20, has scored two goals and added two assists in nine games in the USHL this season with the Stars.

The right-handed forward registered 27 points (19 goals, eight assists) in 44 games last year during the 2020-21 season with the Kenai River Brown Bears of the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

Wahlin played high school hockey at Hill-Murray School in Maplewood, MN before joining the Bulls in North Iowa in the NA3HL during the 2019-20 season. During that season, Wahlin was named the NA3HL’s Rookie of the Year. He had a breakout first season of junior hockey. He recorded 59 points (32 goals, 27 assists) in just 38 NA3HL games with the Bulls. Wahlin was also the star of the 2020 NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament, recording 10 points in just three games for the West Division.

The process has been a grind for Wahlin, but one he’s met head-on.

“I’m the youngest of four kids, so I’ve always been the young one getting picked on," Wahlin said. "And whether it’s that or in hockey, you have to battle through that adversity. I started from the NA3HL and I was lucky enough to be moved up and moved up. You just have to keep working and push yourself."

Stars head coach Rocky Russo spent the majority of his 16-year coaching career in the NAHL, meaning glowing reviews of Wahlin weren’t hard to find.

“Our associate head coach in North Iowa [Bulls], Kevin Murdoch, coached him in Kenai River and the head coach in North Iowa, Todd Sanden, coached him in the NA3HL (North American Tier III Hockey League), so we were able to watch some video and get some character references on him,” Russo said. "He had a great main camp and we elected to bring him in after that and he’s just continued to get better each and every week.”

It’s that level of determination and work ethic that helped the 20-year-old secure a roster spot after Lincoln’s main camp.

"His desire to get better is what impresses me," Russo said. "He does the extra stuff in the gym and after practice. He’s the first one to sign up for community service. It’s all genuine. He’s just a really good human being and he’s a great example of the type of player we want here in Lincoln.”

And speaking of Lincoln, No. 3 has quickly become a fan favorite thanks to his hard-nosed style of play. His goal-of-the-year candidate at the Ice Box on October 8th was one of the rink’s loudest moments so far in 2021-22.

“It’s really cool,” Wahlin continued. "I’ve had a lot of fun fanbases throughout my junior hockey career, but the Ice Box on a Friday or Saturday night is pretty sweet. It’s an unbelievable atmosphere and has been a great experience. I know all the fans feel the same way, too.”

Wahlin will join fellow Stars forward Luc Laylin at the University of St. Thomas next season.

The Tommies were founded in 1920, serving as one of the oldest ice hockey programs in the United States. They are 12-time winners of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), clinching the title last in 2020.

Before this season began, former Miami (OH) RedHawks coach Enrico Blasi was named the university’s head coach. The Tommies picked up their first win of the season last Saturday, beating Ferris State 5-2.

“The coaching staff has a great background,” Wahlin said. "Coach Blasi built championship teams at Miami and I really trust his process in what he can do for the future at St. Thomas.”