Hockey earns first win at Midco
Augustana hockey rode a four-goal third period against the University of St. Thomas to earn its first home win at the new Midco Arena on Feb. 9. The Vikings swept the previously top-ranked team in the conference 4-2 and 2-1 in a two-game weekend series.
In the first game, St. Thomas junior Tim Piechowski scored a wrist shot goal from the sidewall in the first period to give the Tommies an early 1-0 lead.
With 10:10 left in the first quarter, fifth-year forward Arnaud Vachon committed a five-minute major penalty for illegal contact to the head. Augustana was unfazed, killing the penalty with ease and getting back to full strength. The score stayed 1-0 through the rest of the first period.
“Losing [Vachon] early he’s a big part of our team, but the boys rallied behind him and it was good to get that first win at Midco,” freshman forward Brett Meerman said.
The second period saw a battle for the upper hand. The Vikings had multiple opportunities to score on power plays when back-to-back tripping penalties were called on the Tommies.
However, St.Thomas’ penalty kill kept the 1-0 lead intact going into the third period.
In a flash, the Vikings took the lead in the third period and didn’t look back.
Junior defenseman Evan McIntyre found the back of the net with a quick wrist shot for his third goal of the season, tying the game at one a piece. Just 12 seconds later, fifth year Chase Brand ignited the arena with a goal to give the Vikings a 2-1 lead.
“We had some big leaders step up. After the first period was some of the best hockey we’ve played all year,” freshman goaltender Kayden Hargraves said.
The Vikings didn’t stop there.
Junior defenseman Uula Ruikka scored his fifth goal of the season on a five-on-three power play when the crease opened wide up, giving the Vikings a 3-1 lead. St. Thomas added a late goal to make it a one-score game, but junior Brady Ziemer’s empty net goal gave Augustana its first victory in the Midco Arena.
“[A] solid effort from start to finish by our group,” head coach Garrett Raboin said. “I felt like we got better within the game. A very strong St. Thomas team. They pushed late, but we were able to take advantage of a big five-on-three.”
On Feb. 10, the Vikings pulled off a 2-1 win, securing a series sweep over St. Thomas.
Augustana opened the scoring as freshman forward Callum Gau found the net with a rebound shot. Both teams battled for possession, but the score stayed 1-0 in favor of the Vikings by the end of the first period.
St. Thomas came out of the locker room swinging and scored on a Piechowski shot from in front of the net; however, five penalties hurt the Tommies and had them scrambling for the remainder of the period.
The Tommies, though, stayed strong and fought Augustana, taking the game to the third period with a tie of 1-1.
The third period saw a great defensive battle as both goalkeepers denied multiple scoring opportunities. The Vikings earned a late period power play but were unable to capitalize, as the game went into overtime.
At the end of the third period, the Vikings started overtime with a penalty kill, though Augustana gained traction again as it got back to full strength.
“Like I said, you kill that penalty and you hear the crowd going nuts and you see the shirtless football players in the back,” Vachon said. “They’re into it so we got to get into it and we feed off that energy.”
A pass from freshman forward Owen Bohn gave Vachon an open angle, and Vachon powered the puck up and over the Tommies’ goalkeeper to give the Vikings a 2-1 overtime victory.
“Our guys came out hard and fast and got our student section into it, which is obviously something we can draw from,” Raboin said.
The Vikings will be back in action with a road series on Feb. 16-17 against Lake Superior State in Michigan.
