SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana hockey team (12-7-1, 5-3 CCHA) returns to home ice this weekend as it sets its sights on Lindenwood (5-16-1) in a Friday, Saturday series. The weekend series kicks off at 7:07 p.m. on Friday and 6:07 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are still available at GoAugie.com/Tickets and action can also be found on Midco Sports Plus. 

Augustana's anticipated return to Midco Arena will include a free car wash coupon courtesy of Silverstar Car Wash. Students can also expect a free slice of pizza while supplies last. 

Friday/Saturday mini-plans are still available for the remaining four-home weekend series as the weekend approaches. Prices start at $80 and be found at GoAugie.com/Tickets. 

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.

Series History 
This weekend's affair will be the second meeting ever between the two programs. The all-time series record is 1-1. Augustana took a 4-3 win in the first-ever meeting last season in Maryland Heights, Missouri before it fell on night two by a score of 5-3. 

The Lions 
Lindenwood comes into the weekend with a 5-16-1 record. The Lions come to Sioux Falls after they garnered a weekend split against Stonehill. LU secured a Friday night win by a score of 3-0 before it fell Saturday, 3-2. 

Under new head coach Bill Muckalt, the Lions have secured wins over Wisconsin, Omaha and Miami. 

Senior forward David Gagnon leads the Lions with 20 points by way of nine goals and 11 assists. Gagnon made the jump to NCAA hockey during Lindenwood's transition from ACHA to NCAA. Owen Bartoszkiewicz has manned the net in 19 games this season and holds a save percentage of .919 and a goals-against average of 2.60. 

The Vikings
Augustana comes into the weekend well-rested after a well-deserved bye. The last time the Vikings hit the ice was in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Jan. 3-4 where Augustana swept then-No. 8 Colorado College by scores of 5-1 and 3-2. 

Head coach Garrett Raboin returns to the bench after serving as an assistant coach with Team USA in the IIHF World Junior Championships where he helped USA to its second consecutive gold medal. 

After Augustana's weekend sweep of CC, sophomore defenseman Hayden Hennen was named CCHA Defenseman of the Week after he potted one goal and two assists for three points. 

On Wednesday afternoon, Josh Kotai was named to the Watch List for the 2025 Mike Richter Award, announced by the Hockey Commissioners Association. Kotai is one of 35 goalies named to the award's watch list. The Richter Award has been awarded annually since 2014 to the top goaltender in men's Division I hockey. Kotai holds an 11-5-1 record between the pipes in 2024-25 with a save percentage of .944 and a goals-against average of 1.71. His .944 save percentage ranks second in the nation.