The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) has announced the Finalists for Coach of the Year and Rico Blasi (St. Thomas), Garrett Raboin (Augustana) and Luke Strand (Minnesota State) have been recognized. The winner will be announced on Wednesday.
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Blasi led the No. 17 Tommies to a 15-7-4 record in CCHA play, culminating with the team's second straight apperance in the Mason Cup Championship, where they fell to Minnesota State. St. Thomas netted a league-best seven shorthanded goals and 21 power-play goals, boasting a 22.1% power play, which was fourth the league. The Tommies were also tops in total goals (89) and third in face-off percentage (50.1%).
St. Thomas finished second in the standings by season's end, sweeping Lake Superior State and topping Augustana in the Mason Cup Playoffs to set up their rematch with the Mavericks. Overall, St. Thomas concluded its fifth DI season with a program-best 21 victories, going 21-12-5.
Raboin continued to elevate the No. 18 Vikings in year three of the program, including amassing a 14-8-4 conference record in their first full season of action. Augie was in contention for the MacNaughton Cup in the final day of the regular season and wound up third in the tightly contested race. Augustana ranked first in the conference in fewest goals allowed (49), save percentage (.941) and fewest penalty minutes (173). The Vikings also led the league in both power play (23.8%) and penalty kill (89.4%), while finishing the season as one of three teams in the nation to not allow a shorthanded goal.
Augustana went 22-11-4 overall and were in the hunt for an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament until the final night of conference tournament action. Junior goaltender Josh Kotai was the league's Goaltender and Player of the Year and is now a top three finalist for the Mike Richter Award as the nation's top netminder.
Strand brought Minnesota State back to the NCAA Tournament in 2025-26, winning the MacNaughton Cup and Mason Cup after an 14-7-5 record in conference play. The Mavericks ranked second among CCHA teams in fewest goals allowed (53) and shots (816), while finishing third in save percentage (.920). MSU won its Mason Cup Playoff series with Ferris State in three games, before topping Michigan Tech, 7-2, in the semifinals and St. Thomas, 4-1, in the final.
The Mavericks are currently 22-10-7 and are ranked No. 14 in the final regular season USCHO.com poll. They have won four of the five Mason Cup Championships since the CCHA was reconstituted in 2021-22, including two in row.
Earning the CCHA's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, Minnesota State will face Western Michigan in the opening round of the Loveland Regional on Friday (1:30pm CT).
Voting for the 2025-26 All-CCHA Teams and year-end awards was conducted by the nine head coaches at each CCHA member institution, based on CCHA conference games only. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players or themselves.
The league's year-end award announcements conclude on Wednesday (11am ET) with the Coach of the Year.
For more information, contact:Â
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Perry LaskarisÂ
Director of Strategic Communications & Brand AdvancementÂ
Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA)Â
Laskaris@ccha.comÂ
(651) 308-1065