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The No. 7-ranked men’s hockey team used goals from five different players to clinch the MIAC championship after defeating the Bethel Royals 5-2 Friday night at home.

This is the team’s first regular-season conference title since 2006, and theTommies will also be the top seed in the playoffs, despite having three MIAC games left.

After the game, senior assistant captain Chris Hickey said that he was proud of his team.

“As a player on the team, it’s great to see a bunch of guys step up,” Hickey said. “Any given guy can score at any given time, and it makes you play at ease when everyone is playing tough.”

 Coach Jeff Boeser is also proud of the team’s hard work.

“We don’t really have one superstar,” Boeser said. “We have 35 players that bring it everyday, work hard and play together. That’s been our motto all year long.”

The win also kept the team’s 10-game winning streak alive.

“We’re not thinking about the win streak,” Hickey said. “It’s tough to even think about the championship right now – the end goal is still out there.”

Freshman Chris Cass scored the team’s first goal on a power play in the second period, followed by goals from junior Travis Baker and freshman Loren French.

“I got a really nice pass from (senior) Matt Lipinski right out front and was able to put the puck in the back of the net,” French said.

Junior Riley Horgan and senior captain Rob Philipp each scored goals in the third period to clinch the win for the Tommies.

Junior goalie Tyrone Simcoe stopped 22 of 24 shots.

French and Boeser both agreed that though the team already clinched the MIAC title, “nothing changes” when it comes to thinking about the next three regular-season games.

“We’re approaching it like we have to get ready for the playoffs,” Boeser said. “We are going to keep getting better. I’m very proud of what we’ve done, but there’s always a bigger picture.

The Tommies will play the Royals again Saturday, Feb. 4, at the National Sports Center in Blaine.

 Terese Quarberg can be reached at quar3707@stthomas.edu.