Augustana hockey gears up for third season

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Augustana men’s hockey is back for its third season after an 18-13-4 campaign in 2024.

Augie hockey finished the 2024 season ranked second in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, falling to Bemidji State in the Mason Cup quarterfinal. The Vikings are ready to make even more noise in the 2025 season.

“We have to carry with us the mentality that’s given us a chance and provided us with some early success,” head coach Garrett Raboin said. “That’s just controlling what we can control, we have to continue to work and believe that if we can take care of ourselves that the result will follow.”

Augustana returns multiple key components to its roster, including junior goaltender Josh Kotai. The Abbotsford, British Columbia native finished his sophomore season with a .936 save percentage and an average of only 1.92 goals against per game.

“For him to grow his game, he’s going to have to build off of what he did last year,” Raboin said. “What a great challenge and something I know he’s prepared himself for throughout the summer.”

This season marks the first time Augie will play a full 26-game C-C-H-A schedule, presenting a new challenge in facing series’ with all nine teams.

“I think it’s better when you play them more times because then you get to know them better, know what they do good, what they’re good at” sophomore forward Nace Langus said. “It’s going to be good to get prepared, it’s going to be easier to get prepared for them for sure.”

The Vikings season unofficially began in a 2-2 exhibition tie at St. Cloud State where every player touched the ice, giving them a solid foundation heading into non-conference play.

“There was a forecheck there, there was a back check, just some really good building blocks that is we can sustain it and us those as indeed as building blocks, it should bode us well this weekend,” Raboin said.

The Vikings will open the season Friday and Saturday at Minnesota Duluth.

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