| Ice hockey in South Dakota | |
|---|---|
 Flag of South Dakota | |
| Country | United States |
| Governing body | USA Hockey [1] |
| National team(s) | Men's national team Women's national team |
| First played | 1999 |
Club competitions | |
South Dakota has a curious history with ice hockey. Despite the state having relatively little history with the sport, South Dakota's proximity to other very engaged states has resulted in a high level of engagement by its residents.
For much of its history, South Dakota has had a low population with the entire state having yet to amount to 1 million (approximately 910,000 in 2022). [2] Despite cold winters, which would provide a natural playing surface, ice hockey did not take off in the state for many years.
It wasn't until 1999 that the state received its first franchise when USHL expanded to Sioux Falls. [3] The Sioux Falls Stampede played at the highest level of junior hockey in the US and was routinely stocked with future NHL talent. The team struggled through a few lean years early on but built itself into a force by the mid 00s. Shortly after the Stampede won it first Clark Cup in 2007, the state received its second team when the Rapid City Rush were founded in 2008. The team found success straight away and won the league championship in just its second season. The team was able to quickly establish itself partly by being the only professional game in town and that fact was key in keeping the team alive.
In 2014, the CHL folded, leaving 10 teams scrambling to find a new home. The Rush were one of seven who were accepted into the ECHL for the next season. While their new league made the Rush a more attractive team (now playing AA hockey), the tradeoff was that the team's expenses were also increasing. To help offset those costs, the team was able to sign an affiliate deal and become part of the Phoenix Coyotes system in 2015. [4] The team struggled on the ice afterwards, missing the playoffs for five consecutive seasons, however, that wasn't the worst calamity to befall the Rush. In 2019, the team's business manager was investigate by federal authorities for embezzlement. He later pled guilty to stealing $700,000 between 2010 and 2018 and was ordered to pay $1 million in restitution. [5]
Junior hockey expanded in the state when the Aberdeen Wings were founded in 2010. The team began play as a member of the NAHL, a second-tier junior league. Just like the Stampede, it took a few years for the Wings to build itself into a contender but the team won its first league title in 2019, the same year Sioux Falls earned their third championship. [6]
In 2021 Augustana University announced that, following a successful fundraising campaign spearheaded by T. Denny Sanford, the school would sponsor varsity ice hockey beginning with the 2023–24 season. In order to help the team receive greater exposure, the school signed a deal with Midco, a regional cable broadcaster headquartered in Sioux Falls, to not only become namesake for their new facility (Midco Arena) but to also be the television provider for the team. [7]
| Team | City | League | Arena | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City Rush | Rapid City | ECHL | The Monument | 2008 |
| Team | City | Gender | Division | League | Arena | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augustana Vikings | Sioux Falls | Men's | NCAA Division I | CCHA | Midco Arena | 2023 |
| Team | City | League | Arena | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls Stampede | Sioux Falls | USHL | Denny Sanford Premier Center | 1999 |
| Aberdeen Wings | Aberdeen | NAHL | Odde Ice Center | 2010 |
| Watertown Shamrocks | Watertown | NAHL | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena | 2024 |
Active Active (out of state)
In spite of the state not having an established ice hockey team for decades, South Dakota has a very high level of engagement with the sport. While less 3,000 residents were registered with USA Hockey in 2023, the population percentage of 0.339% placed South Dakota at 13th in the nation, ahead of 'traditional' hockey states like New York and Pennsylvania. [8] While several collegiate players have hailed from South Dakota over the years, no player from South Dakota has yet to achieve a significant level of notoriety.
The Central Hockey League (CHL) was a North American mid-level minor professional ice hockey league which operated from 1992 until 2014. It was founded by Ray Miron and Bill Levins and later sold to Global Entertainment Corporation, which operated the league from 2000 to 2013, at which point it was purchased by the individual franchise owners. As of the end of its final season in 2014, three of the 30 National Hockey League teams had affiliations with the CHL: the Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, and Tampa Bay Lightning.
The North Dakota Fighting Hawks are the athletic teams that represent the University of North Dakota (UND), located in the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I level as a member of the Summit League. With 17 varsity teams, North Dakota is best known for its Ice Hockey team and American Football team. North Dakota's main rivalries are with the North Dakota State Bison and the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
The Sioux Falls Stampede are a Tier I junior ice hockey team based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Stampede are members of the Western Conference of the United States Hockey League (USHL). The team plays home games at the Denny Sanford Premier Center, the largest facility in capacity and size in the USHL. The team was established in 1999.
The following is a chronicle of events during the year 2006 in ice hockey.
Alexander Dwight Foster is an American former professional ice hockey forward who last played with the Brampton Beast of the ECHL.
The Rapid City Rush are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL based in Rapid City, South Dakota, and play their home games at The Monument. The Rush are currently a minor affiliate of the Calgary Flames NHL franchise.
Kellen Briggs is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender.
Joseph Dominic Vitale is an American former professional ice hockey player and the current radio color analyst for the St. Louis Blues. Vitale was drafted 195th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, with whom he made his NHL debut. He also played with the Arizona Coyotes.
The Aberdeen Wings are a Tier II junior ice hockey team based out of Aberdeen, South Dakota, that began play for 2010–11. A member of the North American Hockey League in the Central Division, the Wings play their home games in the Odde Ice Center.
Nathanael Christian Prosser is an American former ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 2010 to 2022. He played for the Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, and Philadelphia Flyers.
The Augustana Vikings are the athletic teams that represent Augustana University, located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Vikings compete as members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference for all 14 varsity sports. The Vikings joined the NSIC from the North Central Conference, which folded in 2008.
Blake Kessel is an American retired professional ice hockey defenseman who most recently was coaching Ironbound Elite 16U Premier in the USA Hockey Women's 16U AA. He most recently played for the Orlando Solar Bears in the ECHL. He was selected by the New York Islanders in the 6th round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
Rylan Galiardi is an American former professional ice hockey center. His younger brother, TJ Galiardi, is also a former professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League.
Riley Weselowski is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who predominantly played in the ECHL. He is currently serving as an assistant coach with the Kansas City Mavericks of the ECHL.
Brendan Perlini is an English-Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played with the Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Taylor Matson is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for Tappara in Liiga. He was drafted 176th overall by Vancouver Canucks in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to turning professional, Matson spent four years at the University of Minnesota and in the American Hockey League (AHL) and ECHL.
Cole Sillinger is an American-born Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Sillinger was selected by the Blue Jackets 12th overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
The Augustana Vikings men's ice hockey is a NCAA Division I ice hockey team that began play in the fall of 2023.
Midco Arena in Sioux Falls, South Dakota is a 3,082-seat ice hockey arena on the campus of Augustana University. The arena broke ground on October 5, 2021 and opened as the permanent home of the Augustana Vikings men's ice hockey team on January 26, 2024.
Michael Carcone is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Utah Hockey Club of the National Hockey League (NHL). Undrafted, Carcone began his professional career in the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliates of NHL organizations including the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, and Arizona Coyotes.
