In October 2021, Augustana University announced that it will be home to the Viking Men’s Hockey program — set to take the ice in the fall of 2023. The public announcement came during a groundbreaking ceremony on AU’s campus for the program’s new Midco Arena. The hockey program, which will compete at the NCAA Division I level as part of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), will be the Vikings’ 23rd collegiate sport and first of its kind in South Dakota. The team will be led by Garrett Raboin, who was named the inaugural head coach in April 2022.
Bill and Carolyn Hinks are generously supporting Midco Arena as founding partners.
“I think this hockey program is going to be a game-changer for Augustana University and our community as a whole,” said Bill.
Bill is the founder of Furniture Mart USA, and Carolyn has worked alongside Bill for 45 years. Furniture Mart is a top 35 furniture retailer based in Sioux Falls, operating 58 stores across six states. The company earned Furniture Today’s Leadership Award in 2021.
The couple has been closely tied to Augustana for many years — attending athletics events, providing scholarships and supporting the Viking Marching Band. The Hinks also share a close friendship with Jim Heinitz — AU Football’s longest-serving and all-time winningest head coach who served as Furniture Mart’s CEO for more than a decade.
“It’s been fun watching Augie grow to where it is today,” Bill said. “We are proud to play a part in supporting the Viking Bold (strategic plan) initiatives.”
The Hinks are no strangers to the sport of hockey as they watched their son play growing up, and Furniture Mart was a major sponsor in construction of the SCHEELS IcePlex in 2014.
“We have a store in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and we go up there every year to watch a hockey game,” said Bill. “People will drive for hours in 20 degrees below zero weather to get to the game. Soon, we expect to see that same level of dedication and game-day atmosphere for Augustana Hockey.”
For more information on how to contribute to the program, visit augielink.com/hockey.
Learn more about other Viking Men's Hockey and Midco Arena donors: