The Augustana College Vikings are preparing for a significant roster expansion as the 2026‑27 season approaches, bringing the total number of skaters to 28. This influx marks one of the most substantial additions in recent program history and sets the stage for a competitive campaign.
Coaching staff have emphasized a balanced mix of defensive reliability, offensive creativity and goaltending depth, ensuring that the new class can contribute across all zones of the ice.
Twin brothers make program history
Among the newcomers, Matsvei Marshchanok and Siamion Marshchanok arrive as the first set of twins ever to wear the Vikings’ colors. Both brothers honed their skills in the NAHL with the Austin Bruins and earned caps with Team Belarus U18, bringing international experience and a shared competitive drive.
The eight‑player cohort reflects a geographic spread that includes three Canadians, three Americans and two Belarusians, each arriving with distinct junior hockey pedigrees that promise to enrich the team’s dynamics.
Erick Comstock, a freshman defenseman, joins the Vikings after a standout prep career at Warroad High School and recent NAHL play with the Watertown Shamrocks, where his physical style and defensive acumen drew attention.
Jacob Fletcher, a sophomore forward, returns to the college ranks after a season at Lindenwood University and a stint with the Cranbrook Bucks of the BCHL, where he posted double‑digit point totals and demonstrated offensive versatility.
Health Nelson, another freshman, brings a blend of WHL experience with the Victoria Royals and USHL exposure with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, adding speed and a two‑way work ethic that aligns with the program’s modern tempo.
Mathis Langevin, a sophomore defenseman, previously skated for Miami (OH) in the NCHC and attended a development camp with the Philadelphia Flyers, offering collegiate experience and NHL prospect status.
Angelo Zol, a freshman goaltender, earned BCHL Goalie of the Year honors while backstopping the Weyburn Red Wings of the SJHL, highlighting his reflexes and consistency between the pipes.
Ryan Whiterabbit, a freshman forward, rounds out the group after contributions to both the Waterloo Black Hawks and the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL, where he displayed offensive flair and defensive responsibility.
The coaching staff view the new additions as a catalyst for internal competition, noting that the blend of youthful energy and proven junior experience should elevate practice intensity and foster deeper roster rotation.
Beyond individual backgrounds, the roster’s international composition underscores the Vikings’ expanding footprint across hockey’s traditional powerhouses and emerging markets, linking the program to talent hubs in North America, Europe and beyond.
Fans can anticipate a season where the Vikings deploy an aggressive forecheck and swift transition game, leveraging the diverse skill sets of the new class to contend for a conference title and push the program to new heights.