SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana hockey has added a marquee weekend to the schedule as it welcomes the USA Hockey National Development Program to Midco Arena on March 8-9. 

With the addition of the USNTDP, the Vikings schedule rounds out to play 34 games in their inaugural season, presented by First PREMIER Bank / PREMIER Bankcard. 

The Vikings' will hit home ice a total of 15 times throughout the season, with the first five being played at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. From there, the on-campus home of Augustana hockey, Midco Arena, will host the final 10 contests of the inaugural season beginning with the series against Ferris State Jan. 26-27.

Season tickets remain available for the inaugural season. For more information regarding season tickets, head to GoAugie.com/hockeytickets.

2023-24 Inaugural Season Schedule
Oct. 7-8 - at Wisconsin
Oct. 14-15 - Bowling Green (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)
Oct. 27 - at Denver
Oct. 28 - at Colorado College 
Nov. 3-4 - at Michigan Tech  
Nov. 10-11 - at Lindenwood
Nov. 24 - at Omaha
Nov. 25 - Omaha (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)
Dec. 1-2 - at Northern Michigan
Dec. 15-16 at Alaska Fairbanks
Dec. 30-31 at Notre Dame
Jan. 5-6 - Minnesota State (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)
Jan. 19-20 - at Arizona State 
Jan. 26-27 - Ferris State (Opening weekend at Midco Arena)
Feb. 2-3 - at Bemidji State 
Feb. 9-10 - St. Thomas (Midco Arena)
Feb. 16-17 - at Lake Superior State
Feb. 23-24 - Alaska Anchorage (Midco Arena)
March 1-2 - Alaska Fairbanks (Midco Arena)
March 8-9 - United States National Development Program (Midco Arena)

ABOUT THE USNTDP
The USNTDP was started in 1996 by USA Hockey as a way to identify elite ice hockey players under the age of 18, and centralize their training. The program is composed of two squads, the US National Under-17 and Under-18. The Under-17 team competes in the United State Hockey league and international events annually. The Under-18 team's schedule includes games against NCAA DI and DIII programs, USHL contests, and International tournaments. 

The U.S. has won 11 gold medals at the IIHF World Men's Under-18 Championship with each team composed primarily of NTDP players.

The development team has 396 NHL Draft Picks with five first-overall picks, NHL prominent players who have gone first-overall include Jack Hughes, Auston Matthews, Patrick Kane, Erik Johnson, and Rick DiPietro.