Augustana Hockey Announces Inaugural CCHA Schedule

Augustana Hockey is just a few months away from hitting the ice on their inaugural season, and the program has officially announced its CCHA conference slate for the first season.

Per GoAugie.com, the Vikings add a transitional conference schedule to an already impressive lineup of non-conference opponents:

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) has announced its slate of games for the 2023-24 season including Augustana's 16 games against league competition in its inaugural season.

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The Vikings will drop the puck in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for the first time on Oct. 14 as Bowling Green makes the visit for the two-game series. The finale will take place Oct. 15 as both contests will be played in the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.

The Vikings will boast a tremendous schedule right out of the gate in year number one, and here's a look at the complete CCHA schedule:

Augustana's CCHA Slate
Oct. 14 – vs. Bowling Green (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)
Oct. 15 – vs. Bowling Green (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)
Nov. 3 – at Michigan Tech
Nov. 4 – at Michigan Tech
Dec. 1 – at Northern Michigan
Dec. 2 – at Northern Michigan
Jan. 5 – vs. Minnesota State (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)
Jan. 6 – vs. Minnesota State (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)
Jan. 26 – vs. Ferris State (Midco Arena)
Jan. 27 – vs. Ferris State (Midco Arena)
Feb. 2 – at Bemidji State
Feb. 3 – at Bemidji State
Feb. 9 – vs. St. Thomas (Midco Arena)
Feb. 10 – vs. St. Thomas (Midco Arena)
Feb. 16 – at Lake Superior State
Feb. 17 – at Lake Superior State

Hockey fans across the country are set to welcome the newest DI Hockey program at Augustana, while those of us in Sioux Falls ready for top-tier hockey right here in the 605.

For more information on the program, including ticketing, visit GoAugie.com.

Source: Go Augie

Know Your South Dakota College and University Mascots

The college football experience is an ultimate high for football fans and it takes several other teams to make that happen week after week during the season.

Just think about what goes into gameday? First and foremost, the players and coaching staff who put in hours and hours of practice and training to play in front of their fans. Then there's field prep, game officials, live broadcasts, concessions, and on-the-field entertainment. Yep, entertainment.

Second to the game, who do you watch? The cheerleaders? The band at halftime? What about the mascot? That's a job not many people can do.

I asked Sioux Falls native and former Cagey mascot for the Sioux Falls Canaries and Little Red & Herbie for the Nebraska Huskers Nate Welch about being a mascot:

What does it take to be a mascot?
"Losing a bet or filling an opportunity!" Welch says, "An internal energized desire to love life. After meeting great performers who are introverts out of costume, they become the center of attention when they take the stage. And also feeding off the performance of others."
Why does the mascot never talk?
"Know your role and shut your mouth. You are there to entertain. Tell the story with your actions and not your voice."
Advice to someone putting on that costume for the first time?
"Remember you are now in a costume. Have fun. Otherwise, you're just a dork in tights. If the fur ain't flying you ain't trying."

Nate Welch has moved on from his days as a mascot to Executive Director of the Vermillion Area Chamber of Commerce and Development Company in Vermillion, South Dakota.

So, can you name the mascots at our South Dakota Colleges and Universities? Check out the gallery below: