SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana hockey team (5-3, 2-2 CCHA) hits the road for the third time this season as it faces Ferris State (1-7, 0-2 CCHA) in Big Rapids, Michigan, on Friday at 6:07 p.m. and Saturday at 5:07 p.m.

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 will be the third meeting all-time against the Bulldogs. Ferris State holds an overall record of 1-3 against the Vikings. FSU spoiled the opening weekend of Midco Arena during the 2023-24 season with a weekend sweep over AU. In 2024-25, Augustana split at Ferris State, where it dropped game one, 5-2, before bouncing back on night two with a 4-1 win. 

The Bulldogs
Ferris State entered new leadership for the 2025-26 season as Brett Riley was announced as the sixth coach in school history in March 2025. Riley follows legendary coach Bob Daniels, who retired after 33 years behind the Bulldog's bench. Riley served as the head coach at Long Island University since 2020. With the Sharks, he held a coaching record of 62-85-7 that included a weekend split with Augustana in the 2024-25 season. 

The Bulldogs hold a record of 1-7 coming into the weekend. In early October, Ferris State downed the 2024-25 national champions, Western Michigan, by a score of 3-2. FSU rides a five-game losing streak after falling to Michigan Tech in conference play and Lindenwood on home ice. Xavier Jean-Louis leads Ferris State with six points from the blue line. 

The Vikings
Augustana completed the weekend sweep over Northern Michigan on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. The Vikings secured a 2-1 win in Friday's affair and scored three unanswered goals in Saturday's third period to win, 3-1. Josh Kotai made 41 saves in game two. Leo Bulgakov recorded a team-high three points over the weekend.

Kotai was named the CCHA Goalie of the month for October after he recorded a record of 4-3 with a save percentage of .937 and a goals against average of 1.86. Kotai made 193 saves while only allowing 13 goals against. He was named the CCHA Goalie of the Week on Monday, Nov. 3. Ranking second nationally in save percentage among goalies with at least six starts, he has been the lone Vikings goalie to see time between the pipes so far this season, racking up 420:05 minutes.

Augustana has netted 18 goals through the first eight games of the season. Of the 18 goals, the Vikings have scored half of those in the third period. By period splits, 4-5-9 vs opponents 4-6-2-1.