AUGUSTANA VIKINGS: The Under-18 Team closes out its 2023-24 Kroger College Series with a trip to South Dakota to take on the newest team in Division 1 men's hockey, the Augustana Vikings.
Augustana closes its season out against the NTDP after playing to a 12-18-4 record this season, but are winners of five of their last nine contests, which also includes an overtime loss and tie during that stretch.
The Vikings are led by fifth-year forward and Michigan native Rayn Naumovski, who leads the squad with 17 assists and 25 total points, including a point-per-game over his last four. His eight goals scored is topped only by Luke Mobley's 12, the lone skater to hit the double-digit mark.
Four defensemen have hit two figures in points this season including Finn Uula Ruikka (5g-9a--14pts), Hayden Hennen (4g-10a--14pts), Evan McIntyre (3g-8a--11pts) and Brady Ziemer (3g-7a--10pts), older brother of U18 forward and captain Brodie Ziemer (Hutchinson, Minn.).
The Vikings have a three-way split going in net. Zack Rose has been the leader of the pack, starting 15 games with a 6-6-2-2 record, 2.71 GAA and .922 SV%. Kayden Hargraves has nine appearances with a 2.72 GAA and .920 SV% while Josh Kotai has played the second most minutes in 13 games of action and posted a 3.32 GAA and .904 SV%.
The two weekend meetings will be the first ever contests between the NTDP and Augustana in program history.
CHICAGO STEEL: The Under-17 Team travels to Illinois to take on the red-hot Chicago Steel, up to sixth place and in a playoff position in the USHL's Eastern Conference. Chicago is 11-5-2-3 since the turn of the new year as they ascend the standings.
The Steel have a trio of 50-point forwards leading their offensive attack. Michael Hage and Charlie Major have both potted 25 goals on the campaign as the former leads the squad with 55 points to Major's 53. Mick Thompson's 32 helpers leads all Chicago skaters and he has 50 points throug his first 45 games played.
Michael Hagens, older brother of U18 forward James Hagens (Hauppauge, N.Y.), leads the team's blueliners with five goals, 22 assists and 27 total points.
In net, Luke Cloutier has been running away with the starter's minutes. The rookie netminder has a 12-10-2-3 record, 3.56 GAA and .904 SV% in 28 appearances.
The two games will be the final regular-season contests between the Steel and NTDP for the 2023-24 campaign.