ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Augustana hockey team kicked off its 2025-26 season with an exhibition against St. Cloud State. Friday's game ended in a 2-2 tie that saw Tyler Hennen and Hunter Bischoff find the back of the net.

Both teams agreed to two five-on-five periods before ending the night in the third period with five-minute intervals. The five-minute intervals included five-minute power plays for both teams and two five-minute shifts of four-on-four and three-on-three hockey.

Augustana opened up the scoring in the first period as Jacob Jastrzebski and T. Hennen skated into the offensive zone on a two-on-one. Jastrzebski dragged the Huskies' defender to his side before dishing the puck over to T. Hennen for a one-timer just outside the hashmarks. The Vikings outshot the Huskies 12-1 in the first period, with Josh Kotai making the lone save. 

St. Cloud State answered back in the early moments of the second period as Tyson Gross found the back of the woodwork for a power play goal that tied the game at 1-1. Christian Manz stood between the pipes for Augustana in the second frame as he made 13 saves.

The third period saw a difference in play as it began the five-minute intervals shared between the two programs. Augustana opened up the third period with five minutes of power play time. 3:55 into the man-advantage, Max Chakrabarti drifted into the zone and found Gau below the line, who made a quick dish to Bischoff for a tap-in to make it 2-1, Vikings. During three-on-three play, the Huskies were awarded a penalty shot with just over three minutes remaining in the final frame. Josh Zinger took the attempt for SCSU and wired one in to make it a 2-2 game. Freshman netminder Kolby Hay stood between the pipes and made eight saves. The exhibition game ended in a 2-2 tie. 

Game Moments

• Both teams skated 27 athletes each. 
• Augustana opened up the scoring in the first period.
• St. Cloud State tied the game in the final minutes of the third period off a penalty shot.
• All three Augustana goalies saw time between the pipes.
• Owen Baumgartner led the Vikings with six shots on goal.
• The Vikings outshot the Huskies in shots on goal, 12-1, in the first 20 minutes of play.
• Both teams scored on the power play.
• St. Cloud State edged out the Vikings on the faceoff dot, 28-25.
• In the third period, both teams agreed to five-minute intervals that included an AU power play, SCSU power play, four-on-four and three-on-three.

Goals

• Hennen opened up the scoring in the first period off a two-on-one with Jastrzebski. Hennen found the back of the net with a one-timer from just outside the hashmarks.
• In the opening minutes of the second period, Gross scored a power-play goal off a dish from Cooper Wylie.
• Augustana answered back in the third period in its portion of the five-on-four power play as Chakrabarti skated the rubber into the zone and found Gau, who made a quick dish to Bischoff.
• SCSU tied the game late in the third period when it was awarded a penalty shot that Zinger put into the back of the net.

Up Next
Augustana kicks off its regular season next weekend on the road in Duluth, Minnesota, against non-conference foe Minnesota Duluth. Puck drop is set for Friday, Oct. 10 at 7:07 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 11 at 6:07 p.m. 

The Vikings kick off the home portion of their season on Oct. 17 at 7:07 p.m. against No. 14 Arizona State.