29 NAHL Alumni Contribute to NCAA Sweeps

October 24, 2024

The NCAA hockey season is underway and there are, so far, 495 NAHL alums playing Division I hockey. This past weekend, Augustana University and Robert Morris University featured 29 of those former players on their rosters. Both teams produced sweeps and two NA alumni were honored with weekly awards in the Atlantic Hockey America conference.

Augustana University Men’s Ice Hockey team made history this past weekend. The Vikings picked up their first-ever ranked weekend sweep on the road against #12 Omaha. The Vikings roster has many familiar faces from the NAHL, with 17 skaters being former alumni. In game one, against the Omaha Mavericks, the Vikings fell behind late in the second period. After being down by one, six minutes into the final frame, Luke Mobley (Fairbanks, 2017-19) scored the game-tying shorthanded goal. This is the third shorthanded goal in the Augustana program’s history. Mobley was assisted by Payton Matsui (Aberdeen, 2020-21), while the game-winning goal came with the help of former NAHL teammates, Hunter Bischoff (Anchorage, 2021-22) and Hayden Hennen (Anchorage, 2021-23).

In game two, the Vikings shut out the Mavericks, 4 to 0 with three goals scored by NAHL alumni: Luke Mobley, Quinn Rudrud (Bismark, 2020-22), and Payton Matsui. While this is Mobley’s fourth goal in four games, for Rudrud and Matsui, it was their first goal of the season. Hayden Hennen picked up an assist during this matchup, along with Will Howard (New Mexico, 2020-23), and Garret Drotts (Kenai River, 2022-23).

Heading over to the Robert Morris University Colonials, they swept the Miami RedHawks in their season-opening weekend. In game one versus the RedHawks, the Colonials shut down Miami 5 to 1. In the first period, the Colonials took the lead, putting two goals on the board. Heading into the second period, Both former NAHL skaters, Michael Felsing (Minnesota Wilderness, 2021-22) and Brandon Rourke (Corpus Christi, 2021-22) made an impact in their NCAA debuts by recording their first assists on separate goals. Following those two goals in the second period, Walter Zacher (Austin, 2020-23) scored the team’s fifth goal and final goal of the game. Goaltender, Croix Kochendorfer (Chippewa, 2021-22; Aberdeen 2023-24) earned his first career win by stopping 23 of the 24 shots.

Heading into game two, the Colonials limited the RedHawks to one goal, again. In the first period, Zacher starts his run on his first-career hat trick. He recorded the first goal 32 seconds into the game. He later doubled the lead for the Colonials in the second period making the score 2 to 0. In the last two minutes of gameplay, RMU put together two more goals. After giving up one goal to Miami, goalie Kochendorfer responded by assisting on the Colonial’s third goal. Moments later, Luke Van Why (Maryland, 2021-23) was credited with the assist to Zacher’s empty-netter. He got that last goal completing his hat trick with less than a minute on the clock.

Atlantic Hockey America honored two former NAHL players on the Colonials. Kochendorfer was named Goaltender of the Week because of his impressive 1.00 goals-against average, .960 save percentage, and 48 saves across the weekend. Zacher was named Forward of the Week because of his four goals over the weekend and his first-career hat trick.

Vikings’ Connections to the NAHL

Ben Troumbly: Bismarck Bobcats, 2020-22

Carter Theissen: North Iowa, 2022-24; Wisconsin, 2023-24

Colton Friesen: Anchorage, 2021-22

Garett Drotts: Kenai River, 2022-23

Hayden Hennen: Anchorage, 2021-23

Hunter Bischoff: Anchorage, 2021-22

Jeff Hutchinson: Bismarck, 2020-21; New Mexico, 2021-22

Joey DelGreco: Wichita Falls, 2021-22; Oklahoma, 2022-23

Kayden Hargraves: Fairbanks, 2020-23

Luke Mobley: Fairbanks, 2017-19

Owen Baumgartner: Minot, 2019-21; Wichita Falls Warriors, 2020-21; Oklahoma Warriors, 2022-23

Payton Matsui: Aberdeen, 2020-21

Quinn Rudrud: Bismarck, 2020-22

Simon Falk: Minnesota Magicians, 2020-21

Tyler Hennen: Anchorage, 2022-24

Will Howard: New Mexico, 2020-23

Will Svenddal: Minnesota Magicians, 2020-22

Viking Coaches’ Connections to the NAHL

Blake Hietala, Augustana’s Assistant Coach: He played in the NAHL for the Bismarck Bobcats from 2007 to 2008. He went on to be the head coach of the Wisconsin Windigo from 2022 to 2024.

Brady Ferner, Augustana’s Assistant Coach: He played in the NAHL for the Coulee Region Chill from 2014 to 2016.

Colonials’ Connections to the NAHL

Braden Rourke: Corpus Christi, 2021-22

Croix Kochendorfer: Chippewa, 2021-22; Aberdeen 2023-24

Dominic Elliott: Oklahoma, 2023-24

Gabriel Lunn: Johnstown, 2022-23

Gavin Gulash: New Jersey, 2017-20

Greg Japchen: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 2018-19; Amarillo Bulls, 2020-21; North Iowa Bulls 2021-22

Jackson Reineke: Anchorage, 2021-23

Luke Van Why: Maryland, 2021-23

Michael Felsing: Minnesota Wilderness, 2021-22

Patrick Johnson: Bismarck, 2019-24