SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The first complete road series has arrived for the No. 13/15 Augustana Vikings as the hockey team takes on Ohio State on Friday and Saturday in Columbus, Ohio. Puck drop inside Schottenstein Center is set for 5:30 p.m. CT on Friday evening with a 4 p.m. CT start time on Saturday afternoon.
 
This weekend will mark the first-ever series in program history between the two teams.
 
Fans will be able to watch the action on Big Ten Plus, with live stats of the game available on GoAugie.com/Live.
 
The Buckeyes
Ohio State returns to its home ice following a 1-1-0 weekend series on the road at Sacred Heart. The Buckeyes first fell in the Friday opener, 5-3, before bouncing back with a 5-1 win to split the series and improve their season mark to 2-2-0 thus far. Following a five-point performance during the weekend, Evan Jardine was named the Big Ten Second Star of the Week.
 
Jardine leads the Buckeyes with his five points off two goals and three assists so far this season. Jake Karabela, Benjamin Wilmott and Ryan Rucinski follow behind with three points each, all from one goal and two assists apiece. The Ohio State net has been shared by Kristoffer Eberly and Jakub Milota, with Milota taking goaltender duties in the latest series. The freshman from Ostrava, Czech Republic currently holds an .897 save percentage alongside 26 total saves and three goals against in two appearances while Eberly has collected 41 saves in three starts with an .872 save percentage.  
 
Ohio State was picked to finish fifth out of seven teams in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
The Vikings
Augustana made the most of its home-and-home series against the Omaha Mavericks last weekend, collecting a 2-1 win at Midco Arena on Friday off a late game-winner from Nace Langus before taking a 3-2 overtime win with Maxwell Chakrabarti's first goal at Baxter Arena on Saturday. The showing improved the Vikings' record to 3-0-1 so far this season and pushed the team to a 13/15 national ranking in the USCHO.com and USA Hockey polls.
 
Leonid Bulgakov was honored with a CCHA weekly award recognition for his performance in the Omaha series, earning Forward of the Week distinction. It marks the third conference honor for Augustana in the last two weeks.