Skating into hockey’s fourth season
The Augustana men’s hockey team is preparing to get back on the ice at Midco Arena this season with their first conference game against Northern Michigan University on October 30. The Vikings ranked third in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association media polls and fourth in the coaches poll.
Last year, they missed out on making nationals by losing to St. Thomas in the semifinals of the Mason Cup and ended the season ranked No. 15 in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s percentage index last season.
“Each season has been unique for the Vikings. It is anyone’s guess where the team will end up,” Coach Garrett Raboin said about his prediction for the upcoming season.
Augustana has a more experienced team this year compared to the Vikings of last season who ended with a record of 22-11-4. Many of the senior players are talents who have been with the program since they were freshmen in Augustana’s inaugural year as a D1 institution.
“Can we continue with the mindset of establishing at Augustana University and building on what teams have done in the past?” Raboin said. “There are a lot of firsts in uncharted waters in front of us that these guys want to be the pioneers of and help discover.”
Along with veteran players like senior forward Hunter Bischoff, who is returning from a shoulder injury he suffered in January, there are eight new signings who will be joining the Vikings. Raboin said they all fit in terms of personality with Augustana and its student body, but were all recruited for different reasons.
“I am excited. I think we will surprise some people,” Bischoff said. “It is a great new group of guys. We all get along very well.”
Following an award winning season, goaltender Josh Kotai signed a two-year deal with the New York Islanders in March 2026.
Now the other goaltenders have a chance to prove themselves. The Vikings will travel to Grand Forks, North Dakota to face the Fighting Hawks on October 3 in an exhibition game.
Fans can look forward to seeing a new face in between the pipes with sophomore Mathis Langevin or freshman Angelo Zol likely to start as junior goaltender Christian Manz rehabilitates from an injury.
According to junior Will Simmons, the Vikings have been improving with each year since the program’s creation.
“It was pretty sick they beat Bemidji,” Simmons said, referring to the victory against Bemidji State in the Mason Cup quarterfinals last year. “They definitely have a foundation they’ve been building for the past couple years.”
Fans should come to the arena to de-stress and support the team, Raboin said.
Sophomore Taha Ali became a fan when he paid the $5 student entry fee to watch the team play last fall. Ali had never seen ice hockey before he arrived at Augustana. Ali said he enjoys the fast-paced nature of the sport and is looking forward to watching the Vikings play this semester.
“I’ve never watched any sport like it,” Ali said. “So I’m excited to see it again now that I understand the game better.”
The Vikings will play back-to-back games after midterms end. They face Minnesota Duluth on October 9 and 10 before facing the University of Nebraska-Omaha on October 15.
