SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana hockey returns home for the third time this season in its inaugural season presented by First PREMIER Bank / PREMIER Bankcard for a two-game series against CCHA foe Minnesota State, Friday and Saturday. 

About The Game
Complete action can be followed on GoAugie.com/Live and the GoAugie app, presented by The Original Pancake House. The app can be downloaded in the app store or Google Play.

The Friday, Saturday series is set for 7:07 p.m. and 6:07 p.m. inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.  Both games will be streamed on Midco Sports and FloHockey. 

The Mavericks
Minnesota State (8-8-2, 5-4-1 CCHA) comes into the series after splitting with ECACH opponent RPI in Troy, New York. Steven Bellini led the way with two goals, including the game-winning goal in Saturday, Dec. 16, 4-2 win. 

Sam Morton leads the team with 13 goals and six assists for a team-high 19 points. The graduate-student transferred to the Mavericks in 2020-21 after two seasons at Union College, suiting up in 42 games for 13 points. 

Tampa, Florida native Lucas Sowder is second on the team with 14 points by way of five goals and nine assists. Sowder has been all over CCHA opponents, scoring three of his five goals over conference foes. 

Freshman Jakob Stender has suited up in 15 games on the backend, potting one assist over UMass. Stednder came to Mankato after playing for the Fargo Force in the USHL, in his time with the Force, the freshman defenseman played under Augustana assistant coach Chad Demers. 

The Vikings
Augustana (6-10-2) is coming off a weekend against B1G opponent Notre Dame, where Viking hockey fell by scores of 5-1 and 3-2 in overtime. Ryan Naumovski suited up in his 150th consecutive NCAA career game in Sunday Dec. 30 overtime loss. 

Seven first-year Vikings connected for seven of nine points throughout Augustana's weekend against Notre Dame. Ben Troumbly and Owen Bohn slotted in goals while Brett Meerman, Callum Gau, Hayden Hennen, Will Howard and Quinn Rudrud tallied assists. Kayden Hargraves made a Sports Center top 10 play in his 33 save performance in Friday, Dec. 30 loss. 

Bohn has been on a tear throughout his first collegiate campaign. The first-year forward has recorded three goals and four assists through 15 games. 

Bohn joined the Vikings after a strong 2022-23 season with the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL, where he tallied 23 goals and 24 assists in a total of 46 games.

Shay Donovan continues to produce on the backend for the Vikings with one goal and two assists while seeing time on the power play and penalty kill. Donovan netted his first-career goal in the overtime winner against Alaska-Fairbanks. 

The fifth-year defenseman was named an assistant captain by his teammates back in November. 

One Last Thing
Garrett Raboin, in his first season as head coach, will not be behind the bench for this weekend's series as he is serving as an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships, Dec. 26 - Jan. 5, in Gothenburg, Sweden. Raboin and Team USA are undefeated going into the semifinals matchup against Finland on Friday. Assistant coach Taylor Nelson will serve as the Vikings' acting head coach against Minnesota State.