The infamous Nyberg’s Ace Gjallarhorn at Augustana University’s Midco Arena has been suspended above the crowds in front of the large windows on the northeast corner of the building since opening in 2024.
Originally created by Groth Music’s Todd (TJ) Johnson for the Minnesota Vikings, the gjallarhorn was donated to Augustana by Kevin Nyberg ‘79, owner & president of Nyberg’s Ace Hardware and Board of Trustees member, and Linda Nyberg, a retired Sanford Health medical technologist.
Now, thanks again to Kevin Nyberg, as well as Dr. Mark Berdahl ‘81 and Dean Versteeg ‘82, who have rich legacy ties to Augustana, Viking fans can view the gjallarhorn up close and at eye level during NCAA Division I Augustana Men’s Hockey games.
“Kevin Nyberg and Dr. Pam Homan (‘81) approached me about how to have an alternative display for the gjallarhorn that would increase the visibility,” said Versteeg.
“My joking idea for the boat came out of the idea that Erik the Red and Leif Erikson would have had a horn with them when they landed in what is now eastern Canada — Newfoundland. When they called for the horn to be sounded in victory, Ole and Sven realized they had failed to pack the horn, and they had to go back to Norway to get it. This boat is a stylized version of the boat they would have built to transport the horn."
Versteeg’s stylized version of the ship was designed and produced under the name Berdahl, Nyberg and Waagsbo Boatworks (BNWB). Waagsbo is Versteeg’s family name on his grandfather’s side, who came to the U.S. in the early 1900s.
In addition to the name in which it was built, the ship facade was crafted in Berdahl’s wood shop to meet historical standards. The ship was made of red oak, the desired wood of the time; there are no mechanical fasteners, nails or screws — just glue and wooden-edge fasteners.
“For a hardware guy, it was tough for me to see no nuts or bolts, nails in the process,” Nyberg joked. “But, I understand Dean striving for authenticity.”
Versteeg said the dragon head at the front of the ship and tail are traditional. The design of the head came directly from a video that plays at center ice before AU hockey games; the tail is a result of some prototyping and “design” meetings. There are even multiple head and tail options that can be changed out when desired.
“The dimensions came from Old Norse Snekkja, which was a regular ship of war from around the year 1000 to the High Middle Ages. At 9.5 feet by 2.5 feet, it’s approximately one half scale. A full-size ship would have transported the horn and roughly 10 men,” Versteeg explained.
Three months after an initial conversation, the ship was ready to showcase the gjallarhorn in December, with its first appearance prior to a Viking Men’s Hockey game at Midco Arena on Feb. 14.
“It is a work in progress and is not perfect. We threw away the tape measures early in the process in favor of ‘just make all of them about this long.’ It is unique in the true sense of the word. There will never be another,” said Versteeg.
“I hope it becomes a fixture for all who come to AU’s campus.”
View the gjallarhorn and ship for yourself this weekend as Augustana Men’s Hockey (17-9-4, 9-5-2 CCHA) is hosting and competing in its first-ever playoff series — the CCHA Mason Cup Playoffs Quarterfinals — against Bemidji State on March 7-8, with the possibility of a game three on March 9.
Keep in mind that the ship was built for photos in mind! Share your selfies on Facebook, Instagram and X, and be sure to tag @goaugie.
