MANKATO — The bitterness from Saturday’s 4-1 loss to Ferris State remains for No. 14 Minnesota State men’s hockey.
But that’s the past. This weekend gives the Mavericks a chance to wash that taste out of their mouths.
“I know they know the answers to the test, but you still have to go take the test,” MSU head coach Luke Strand said. “For me, Saturday we tried to pass the test without putting the effort into it the right way.”
It also comes against a school MSU fans are all too familiar with.
The Mavericks (11-3-4, 8-2-2) will make the trip to Sioux Falls for two games this weekend. MSU and AU play at 7 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday at Midco Arena.
“They’re fast,” Strand said of the Vikings. “We have to be on guard (protecting the puck), and then at the same time work hard to take away time and space and try to suffocate some things off of their tape. They make a lot of plays, and they utilize their speed.”
The Vikings, who started their Division I college hockey journey three seasons ago, are having a solid start to their 2025-26 season. Thanks to an overall record of 8-5-2 and a 5-4-1 record in the CCHA, they sit fourth with 19 points, trailing only Bowling Green (21), Bemidji State (25) and the Mavericks (27).
AU has also seen its highs and lows in an 8-5-2 start to its season.
The Vikings possess sweeps over then No. 15 Arizona State and Northern Michigan. They’ve also split with Minnesota Duluth (4-1 loss, 4-0 win), Lake Superior State (2-1 loss, 2-1 win) and Ferris State (4-2 win, 2-0 loss). They’ve also dropped three of four to Bemidji State and have a shootout win over St. Thomas.
It’s a resume that can make hockey fans debate for a good while. But within the confines of MSU’s facility, there’s no debate — the Mavericks must take Augustana seriously.
“Conference points are hard to come by,” Strand said. “We only play each other three times, so we (drew) the odd stick here with them and St. Thomas. We have to take advantage of the opportunity.”
Freshman Leo Bulgakov leads the team with six goals, six assists and 12 points. Bulgakov, originally from Minsk, Belarus, came to Augustana from the Aberdeen Wings (NAHL), where he posted 96 points in 113 games over two seasons.
Freshman Jacob Jastrzebski has four goals and six assists. He’s recorded at least one point in his last three games. Senior Colton Friesen has six goals and two assists. His three goals on the power play lead the team.
In between the pipes the Vikings have relied on junior Josh Kotai. He’s started every game this season and boasts a 1.99 goals against average, second only to MSU’s Alex Tracy in the CCHA. Kotai’s save percentage of .936 is best in the CCHA.
AU goaltenders have been tasked with making an average of 29.07 saves this season. Only Lake Superior State (30.83) and Northern Michigan (36.06) are asked to make more saves per game in the CCHA.
The Vikings rank last in the CCHA in faceoff win percentage (.468) and eighth in blocked shots (10.93).