Savage Words: Meatballs, dogs and a reason to be proud

They’ve got something going on over at Augustana.

If you’re into hockey – heck, even if you’re not into hockey – you gotta get over to their home ice at the new Midco Arena in central Sioux Falls. It’s a tough building to miss, jutting out of the ground and towering over the corner of 33rd and Grange.  

I hate to sound like an Augustana homer. I actually went to USF, so my allegiance is purple and white, not yellow and blue. But still, what the Augustana hockey program is doing is quite incredible. 

Augie hockey was born just four years ago, and they dipped their toe into the deep waters from the start. The hockey program is the only NCAA Division I program within the school’s athletic department. 

That launch into college hockey’s biggest stage was four measly years ago. Today, they’re ranked No. 11 in the country with a record of 7-0-1. There are 63 teams in the country competing in Division I hockey. Little Augustana that didn’t have a team, a spiffy new arena, or a hockey player in site, is now ranked No. 11, and they’re likely to move up after spanking Northern Michigan over the weekend.

And it’s not like Augustana is waltzing through a cupcake schedule. In late October, the Vikings traveled to Columbus, Ohio and defeated Ohio State…twice. OHIO freaking STATE. 

Raise your hand if you ever thought Augustana would someday compete against Ohio State…in anything…and win…twice in two days. For a kid who grew up in Sioux Falls watching Augustana battle with the likes of St. Cloud State, Morningside, and Northern Colorado, seeing them smack Ohio State in the mouth is pretty cool.

Again, even if you’re not into hockey – go to a game in Sioux Falls. The venue is perfect. It’s intimate with about 3,000 grandstand seats. I’ve been there a few times, and it seems to be a hot ticket.

And the food? Tremendous.

I lived in Los Angeles for a spell. We used to go to Dodger Stadium and stay for the first three innings just so we could have a Dodger Dog for dinner. Those were good, and iconic, but nowhere near as good as the Swedish meatballs at an Augie game. I’m serious. 

And then there’s Ace, the official Goodwill Ambassador for Augustana. He’s a golden retriever, and I’ve written about him before. I’ll likely write about him again, because he’s worth the price of admission at an Augustana hockey game. No one – NO ONE – is into the game more than Ace. Watching him watch the game, and the puck in particular, is grin-worthy the entire time you’re there. 

I went to their game on Friday when they made quick work of Northern Michigan. The Vikings won 12-0, and the game was actually a bit of a yawner, but I was entertained. Between Ace and the Swedish meatballs, I was as happy as can be. Oh, and my daughter sang the National Anthem before the game, so there’s that.

The Vikings aren’t home again until Nov. 13 when they host Ferris State for a pair of games. In the meantime, they’re at Michigan Tech this weekend, about 630 miles from here. Wanna go? I’d go, just to see if the folks in Houghton, Mich., can come close to the game experience at 33rd and Grange in Sioux Falls. My guess is there’s no way they have the same high-quality meatballs, or a cute golden retriever.

When I was at the game on Friday, the PA announcer called the Vikings “The pride of Sioux Falls” when they took to the ice.

I always cringe at things like that, when teams – or schools – anoint themselves with such high praise.

But I think they might be right.