Grand Rapids coach Dan Watson liked what he saw in Augustine, who will be competing with Michal Postava and Carter Gylander this season.
“(Augustine) wants to know all the details of the game,” Watson said. “He’s very competitive. He does not like to get scored on. He’ll compete until the play’s done, whistle blows and the next rep comes. He stayed out extra, he went out before. He was with one of our practice groups and took a ton of shots and he didn’t complain one time. The players really appreciate it, but his work ethic is top notch.
“Trey and Postava will be pushing to make a great first impression. I’m looking forward to seeing this goalie battle and see where everybody lands. With the three we’ll have for sure in GR, everyone gives us an opportunity to win every night.”
Augustine knows how to take advantage of his chances. He did just that in his three seasons at Michigan State from 2023-26, as he was named the Big Ten’s best goalie the past two. He went 24-9-1 with a 2.11 GAA, .929 save percentage and three shutouts in 34 games last season and was 19-7-4 with a 2.08 GAA, .924 save percentage and three shutouts in 30 games in 2024-25.
“I always give him a ton of credit,” Michigan State coach Adam Nightingale said. “When he committed to us, we took over a program that lost 16 games straight. He wanted to make an impact and change the program around and he certainly did.”
Michigan State was Big Ten regular-season champions in 2024, 2025 and 2026, conference tournament champions in 2024 and 2025 and has qualified for the NCAA Tournament the past three season after not doing so since 2012.
“I think his lateral mobility is really good, but his hockey brain is elite,” Nightingale said of Augustine. “For a goalie, that’s really critical. You have to compete, you have to be able to skate and move and all those things, but his ability to read plays (is great).
“Now he has to do it at a higher level. The game’s a little faster, guys are a little bigger.”
Augustine comes in with a lot of expectations, and he’s ready to live up to them.
“I’m super excited,” he said. “Obviously this is my first professional season, and I couldn’t be happier to be with the organization. I’m really just looking forward to getting there, putting in the work and then hopefully making the NHL.”