The Augustana Vikings are set to take on the Northern Michigan Wildcats in a crucial CCHA conference matchup this weekend at Midco Arena. Game times are set for 7:07 p.m. on Friday and 6:07 p.m. on Saturday.
Tickets are available for purchase at GoAugie.com/Tickets. Fans who can’t attend in person can catch all the action live on Midco Sports and Midco Sports Plus. Live stats and updates will also be available on GoAugie.com/Live and the GoAugie app, presented by The Original Pancake House. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play.
Series History
This weekend’s games mark just the second and third meetings ever between Augustana and Northern Michigan. The all-time series record is currently 1-0-1 in favor of the Vikings. In their first-ever encounter, the two teams battled to a 2-2 tie, with Augustana ultimately claiming the victory in a shootout. Saturday’s affair saw Augustana secure a 5-3 win fueled by a three-point performance from Ryan Naumovski.
Scouting the Wildcats
Northern Michigan enters the series with a boost of confidence after besting Minnesota State in a shootout last Saturday.
Grayden Slipec and Tynan Ewart have been leading the Wildcats’ offense, each recording five points through 12 games. The duo has combined for three goals and seven assists.
Jakub Altrichter rounds out Northern Michigan’s top point producers with four assists. Ryan Ouellette is the primary netminder for the Wildcats, boasting a 1-9-1 record, a 2.82 goals-against average, and a .923 save percentage.
The Vikings Look to Keep Momentum
Augustana comes into these two games aiming to build on a weekend split against Ferris State. The Vikings fell to the Bulldogs 5-2 on Friday before bouncing back to win 4-1 on Saturday.
Uula Ruikka put together a dominant two-point weekend against Ferris State, earning him CCHA Defenseman of the Week honors. Ruikka is making history as the first Viking to receive this accolade. His selection marks the fourth weekly honor earned by an Augustana player this season.
Augustana boasts the fifth-best penalty kill in the nation as they head into the weekend series.
Joey DelGreco stands as the third-highest scorer in the conference with three power play goals. These power play goals have also landed him in 37th place for the nation. Goaltender Josh Kotai anchors the Vikings’ defense with the ninth-best save percentage in the nation.
– GoAugie.com –
What strategies will Augustana implement to counter Northern Michigan’s offensive firepower?
## Interview with Coach Tommies about Augustana’s Upcoming Series
**(Host)** Welcome back, everyone. This weekend is shaping up to be a big one for the Augustana Vikings as they face off against Northern Michigan Wildcats in a crucial CCHA conference matchup. Joining us today is Coach Tommies to provide some insight into the upcoming series. Coach, thanks for being here.
**(Coach Tommies)** Thanks for having me. We’re definitely looking forward to this weekend’s games.
**(Host)** Well, this will be just the second and third meeting between these two teams, correct? What do you know about Northern Michigan?
**(Coach Tommies)**
It’s true. They’re a relatively new opponent for us, but we’ve done our homework. They’re a strong team with a lot of offensive firepower. We know we need to be ready for a physical and competitive series.
**(Host)** The Vikings are coming off a tough sweep at the hands of the Wildcats back in October [[1](https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2024/10/30/11th-ranked-wildcats-get-sweep-elmen-center-augustana/)]. How have the players been responding in practice?
**(Coach Tommies)**
That series was definitely a learning experience for us. We’ve been working hard in practice to address some of the areas where we struggled. The players are focused and determined to come out strong this weekend.
**(Host)** I’ve heard tickets are selling quickly for these games. What would you say to fans considering making the trip to Midco Arena this weekend?
**(Coach Tommies)** If you’re a fan of exciting hockey, you won’t want to miss this series. The atmosphere at Midco Arena is electric, and our guys are ready to put on a show for the home crowd.
**(Host)** Well, Coach, thanks for your time. We’ll be sure to tune in to see how the Vikings fare. Best of luck this weekend!
**(Coach Tommies)** Thank you. We appreciate the support!
