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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana hockey team hits the road to close out its regular season against No. 15 St. Thomas at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena. Puck drop is slated for 7:07 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. 

Both games will be available via Midco Sports Plus, with live stats accessible at GoAugie.com/Live. Fans can also follow complete coverage through the GoAugie app, presented by The Original Pancake House.

Series History

Augustana and St. Thomas met earlier this season at Midco Arena and played to a 4-4 tie before the Vikings won in the eventual shootout. Augustana owns a 3-1-1 overall record against the Tommies. 

The Tommies

St. Thomas enters the weekend at 18-9-3 overall and 15-5-2 in CCHA play, sitting among the league leaders down the stretch. The Tommies have been one of the most efficient offensive teams in the conference, averaging 3.77 goals per game while allowing just 2.90. They’ve totaled 113 goals on the year compared to 87 allowed and carry a power play converting at .216 percent. 

Individually, Lucas Wahlin leads the way with 18 goals and 33 points in 28 games, while Alex Gaffney has totaled 16 goals and a team-best 34 points. Lucas Van Vliet adds 31 points on 11 goals and 20 assists, giving the Tommies multiple top-line threats. In net, Aaron Trotter owns a 2.34 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage in 13 appearances

The Vikings

Augustana enters the weekend at 19-10-3 overall and 13-8-3 in CCHA play, including a dominant 14-2-3 mark at home. The Vikings are averaging 2.94 goals per game while allowing just 2.06 and have outscored opponents 94-66 on the season. Augustana’s power play is converting at a .220 percent clip, while its penalty kill ranks third in the country. The Vikings have been strong throughout games, scoring 33 first-period and 37 third-period goals this season.

Offensively, Brett Meerman leads the team with 26 points on 13 goals and 13 assists in 31 games, while Leonid Bulgakov has tallied a team-high 14 goals and 22 points. Colton Friesen adds 21 points in 32 games, giving the Vikings multiple scoring options up front. In net, Mike Richter Semifinalist Josh Kotai has anchored the defense with a 2.06 goals-against average and .935 save percentage in 30 appearances, posting a 17-10-3 record with four shutouts.

Last week, 19 Vikings were recognized for maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.00 scale), and 12 of them earned CCHA Scholar-Athlete Team honors for achieving a grade point average of 3.50 or higher.


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