# 2023–24 Augustana (South Dakota) Vikings men's ice hockey season

The 2023–24 Augustana (South Dakota) Vikings men's ice hockey season was the inaugural season of play for the program and 1st in the CCHA. The Vikings represented Augustana University, played their home games at Midco Arena and were coached by Garrett Raboin in his 1st season.

## Season

Due to ongoing construction of the Midco Arena, Augustana played its first five home games at the Denny Sanford Premier Center. The Vikings will play a transitional conference schedule in their first two seasons, meeting each CCHA opponent for one weekend series each year (16 games). None of the games against their conference opponents were counted in the league standings. As a result, Augustana is ineligible for the conference tournament until 2026. Despite this, because Augustana was starting its program at the Division I level and not moving up from a lower level, they were eligible for the NCAA tournament in their first season.
Unsurprisingly, Augustana finished with a losing record in their inaugural season but the team was anything but unsuccessful. Early in the season, a tie against one of the top teams in the nation, Denver was followed up by defeating another tournament-hopeful in Colorado College. While the Vikings weren't able to sustain that level of play, the team did demonstrate that they were more than just a collection of spare parts and castaways. The team had many close losses throughout the year, several against well-regarded programs such as Notre Dame. The season's biggest win, however, came against #16 Arizona State, the first victory for the Vikings over a ranked opponent.

## Departures

None; Augustana did not field a club team prior to their first varsity season.

## Recruiting

The entire roster was complied of new entries to the program.

## Roster

As of July 20, 2023.

## Standings

2023–24 Central Collegiate Hockey Association Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | OTW | OTL | SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| Bemidji State † | 24 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 48 | 82 | 64 | 38 | 20 | 16 | 2 | 117 | 111 |
| St. Thomas | 24 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 68 | 62 | 37 | 15 | 20 | 2 | 97 | 105 |
| #19 Michigan Tech* | 24 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 63 | 54 | 40 | 19 | 15 | 6 | 109 | 102 |
| Minnesota State | 24 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 38 | 73 | 62 | 37 | 18 | 15 | 4 | 111 | 96 |
| Northern Michigan | 24 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 36 | 57 | 67 | 34 | 12 | 16 | 6 | 83 | 105 |
| Bowling Green | 24 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 60 | 69 | 36 | 13 | 22 | 1 | 86 | 116 |
| Lake Superior State | 24 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 79 | 73 | 38 | 17 | 20 | 1 | 114 | 113 |
| Ferris State | 24 | 6 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 49 | 80 | 36 | 10 | 24 | 2 | 83 | 125 |
| Augustana ^ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 12 | 18 | 4 | 90 | 105 |
| Championship: March 22, 2024 † indicates conference regular season champion (MacNaughton Cup) * indicates conference tournament champion (Mason Cup) ^ Augustana is playing a transition schedule of 16 games against conference opponents that are not counted in the standings Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll ||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 7 | 7:00 pm | at Wisconsin* | Kohl Center • Madison, Wisconsin | BTN+ | Rose | L 0–4 | 5,703 | 0–1–0 |
| October 8 | 5:00 pm | at Wisconsin* | Kohl Center • Madison, Wisconsin | BTN+ | Kotai | L 0–3 | 6,646 | 0–2–0 |
| October 14 | 6:07 pm | Bowling Green | Denny Sanford Premier Center • Sioux Falls, South Dakota | FloHockey, Midco | Rose | W 3–2 | 3,664 | 1–2–0 |
| October 15 | 5:07 pm | Bowling Green | Denny Sanford Premier Center • Sioux Falls, South Dakota | FloHockey | Rose | W 4–1 | 2,891 | 2–2–0 |
| October 27 | 8:00 pm | at #2 Denver* | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Rose | T 5–5 $^{OT}$ | 5,343 | 2–2–1 |
| October 28 | 7:00 pm | at Colorado College* | Ed Robson Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | | Kotai | W 4–3 | 3,407 | 3–2–1 |
| November 3 | 6:07 pm | at Michigan Tech | MacInnes Student Ice Arena • Houghton, Michigan | FloHockey | Kotai | L 4–6 | 2,527 | 3–3–1 |
| November 4 | 5:07 pm | at Michigan Tech | MacInnes Student Ice Arena • Houghton, Michigan | FloHockey | Kotai | L 3–4 $^{OT}$ | 3,021 | 3–4–1 |
| November 10 | 7:10 pm | at Lindenwood* | Centene Community Ice Center • St. Charles, Missouri | | Rose | W 4–3 $^{OT}$ | 1,607 | 4–4–1 |
| November 11 | 7:10 pm | at Lindenwood* | Centene Community Ice Center • St. Charles, Missouri | | Kotai | L 3–5 | — | 4–5–1 |
| November 24 | 7:07 pm | at Omaha* | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Rose | L 1–2 | 7,285 | 4–6–1 |
| November 25 | 6:07 pm | Omaha* | Denny Sanford Premier Center • Sioux Falls, South Dakota | FloHockey, Midco | Rose | L 2–5 | 3,265 | 4–7–1 |
| December 1 | 6:07 pm | at Northern Michigan | Berry Events Center • Marquette, Michigan | FloHockey | Kotai | T 2–2 $^{OT}$ | 2,859 | 4–7–2 |
| December 2 | 5:07 pm | at Northern Michigan | Berry Events Center • Marquette, Michigan | FloHockey | Kotai | W 5–3 | 2,911 | 5–7–2 |
| December 15 | 10:07 pm | at Alaska* | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | FloHockey | Kotai | L 2–5 | 2,343 | 5–8–2 |
| December 16 | 10:07 pm | at Alaska* | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | FloHockey | Hargraves | W 3–2 $^{OT}$ | 2,892 | 6–8–2 |
| December 30 | 4:00 pm | at Notre Dame* | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Hargraves | L 1–5 | 5,136 | 6–9–2 |
| December 31 | 4:00 pm | at Notre Dame* | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Rose | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 5,022 | 6–10–2 |
| January 5 | 7:07 pm | Minnesota State | Denny Sanford Premier Center • Sioux Falls, South Dakota | FloHockey, Midco | Rose | T 3–3 $^{OT}$ | 3,211 | 6–10–3 |
| January 6 | 6:07 pm | Minnesota State | Denny Sanford Premier Center • Sioux Falls, South Dakota | FloHockey, Midco | Kotai | L 1–2 | 3,363 | 6–11–3 |
| January 19 | 8:00 pm | at #16 Arizona State* | Mullett Arena • Tempe, Arizona | | Rose | W 5–4 | 4,836 | 7–11–3 |
| January 20 | 8:00 pm | at #16 Arizona State* | Mullett Arena • Tempe, Arizona | | Kotai | L 2–3 | 4,892 | 7–12–3 |
| January 26 | 7:07 pm | Ferris State | Midco Arena • Sioux Falls, South Dakota | FloHockey, Midco | Rose | L 2–5 | 3,183 | 7–13–3 |
| January 27 | 7:07 pm | Ferris State | Midco Arena • Sioux Falls, South Dakota | FloHockey, Midco | Kotai | L 3–4 $^{OT}$ | 3,141 | 7–14–3 |
| February 2 | 7:07 pm | at Bemidji State | Sanford Center • Bemidji, Minnesota | FloHockey | Kotai | L 0–5 | 2,050 | 7–15–3 |
| February 3 | 6:07 pm | at Bemidji State | Sanford Center • Bemidji, Minnesota | FloHockey | Hargraves | W 5–2 | 2,435 | 8–15–3 |
| February 9 | 7:07 pm | St. Thomas | Midco Arena • Sioux Falls, South Dakota | FloHockey, Midco | Hargraves | W 4–2 | 2,422 | 9–15–3 |
| February 10 | 7:07 pm | St. Thomas | Midco Arena • Sioux Falls, South Dakota | FloHockey, Midco | Hargraves | W 2–1 $^{OT}$ | 2,591 | 10–15–3 |
| February 16 | 6:07 pm | at Lake Superior State | Taffy Abel Arena • Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan | FloHockey | Hargraves | L 0–3 | 742 | 10–16–3 |
| February 17 | 5:07 pm | at Lake Superior State | Taffy Abel Arena • Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan | FloHockey | Rose | W 3–0 | 1,015 | 11–16–3 |
| February 23 | 7:07 pm | Alaska Anchorage* | Midco Arena • Sioux Falls, South Dakota | FloHockey, Midco | Hargraves | L 5–6 | 2,371 | 11–17–3 |
| February 24 | 6:07 pm | Alaska Anchorage* | Midco Arena • Sioux Falls, South Dakota | FloHockey, Midco | Rose | W 3–0 | 2,718 | 12–17–3 |
| March 1 | 7:07 pm | Alaska* | Midco Arena • Sioux Falls, South Dakota | FloHockey | Kotai | T 2–2 $^{OT}$ | 2,667 | 12–17–4 |
| March 2 | 6:07 pm | Alaska* | Midco Arena • Sioux Falls, South Dakota | FloHockey | Rose | L 0–2 | 3,097 | 12–18–4 |
| March 8 | 7:07 pm | USNTDP* | Midco Arena • Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Exhibition) | FloHockey | | | | |
| March 9 | 6:07 pm | USNTDP* | Midco Arena • Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Exhibition) | FloHockey | | | | |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Central Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Ryan Naumovski | F | 34 | 8 | 17 | 25 | 0 |
| Luke Mobley | F | 34 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 23 |
| Arnaud Vachon | F | 34 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 27 |
| Uula Ruikka | D | 29 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 30 |
| Hayden Hennen | D | 32 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 10 |
| Ben Troumbly | F | 28 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 14 |
| Brett Meerman | F | 29 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 2 |
| Quinn Rudrud | F | 29 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 12 |
| Owen Bohn | F | 31 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 18 |
| Chase Brand | F | 30 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 15 |
| Colton Friesen | F | 24 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 6 |
| Evan McIntyre | D | 34 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 16 |
| Brady Ziemer | D | 34 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 10 |
| Will Howard | F | 25 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Shay Donovan | D | 32 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 14 |
| Jack Jensen | F | 15 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 23 |
| Hunter Bischoff | F | 26 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| Simon Falk | F | 26 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
| Callum Gau | F | 28 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 20 |
| Anthony Stark | D | 30 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Will Svenddal | F | 19 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Zack Rose | G | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Jeff Hutchinson | D | 21 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Kayden Hargraves | G | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Josh Kotai | G | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Silver | F | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Total | | | 88 | 147 | 236 | 278 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Zack Rose | 15 | 863:31 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 39 | 463 | 2 | .922 | 2.71 |
| Kayden Hargraves | 9 | 462:27 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 241 | 0 | .920 | 2.72 |
| Josh Kotai | 13 | 722:36 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 40 | 378 | 0 | .904 | 3.32 |
| Empty Net | - | 24:24 | - | - | - | 5 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 34 | 2072:58 | 12 | 18 | 4 | 105 | 1082 | 2 | .912 | 3.04 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR |
| USA Hockey | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in weeks 11 and 25. Note: USA Hockey did not release a poll in week 12.