Garrett Raboin talks about being Augustana's first hockey coach, what all is on his agenda, shares memories

Garrett Raboin 4 19 22.jpg — Garrett Raboin speaks after being introduced as the first Augustana University men's hockey head coach on April 19, 2022, in Sioux Falls, S.D.

By Mick Hatten, Eli Swanson, Jess Myers, Kris Kerzman

April 27, 2022 05:53 PM

On April 19, Garrett Raboin was named the first men's hockey coach at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D. Unlike other NCAA Division I programs, Raboin has the unique experience of starting a program where there has never been hockey before. He has spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota and spent six seasons before that as an assistant coach for Motzko at St. Cloud State University, where he played defense from 2006-10. Raboin discusses many of the challenges that he is facing with his new job, shares some fun memories from coaching and his playing days and more on this podcast with The Rink Live's Jess Myers and Mick Hatten.

TIME STAMPS

What the last eight days have been like since being named head coach

1:00 The AHCA convention takeaways

2:15 His dad, Bruce Raboin, a former Detroit Lakes head boys hockey coach

3:20 His favorite memories from the 2021-22 Gophers season

4:50 How did he decide to apply at Augustana

6:20 How much influence will he have with helping the arena being built on campus

7:30 What he will be doing in the next year without having a team to coach

8:20 His relationship with Bob Motzko

9:35 Hiring an assistant coach and where Augustana is at in the process

11:15 Conversations about a possible conference membership

12:20 What is the style of play he wants to see as a head coach

13:45 The transfer portal opportunities, trying not to have an all-freshman roster

15:30 Reaching out to coaches, who have made the program move to Division I

16:20 Good spot for recruiting geographically

17:20 Moving his family, seeing South Dakota tourist sites

18:45 His kids joining Sioux Falls Youth Hockey, where to hunt and fish in South Dakota

21:25 Personality traits being sought in first recruits

23:00 Player superstitions — Nic Dowd comes to mind

24:20 Hearing from SCSU connections

25:45 How soon he visited Augustana after Gophers season ended

27:00 Going through the application process for the first time

28:15 Memories of a big comeback at Penn State

30:30 Helping two programs reach the Frozen Four

By Mick Hatten

Mick Hatten is a reporter and editor for Forum News Service and helps manage TheRinkLive.com, a website dedicated to hockey. He began working for Forum Communications in November 2018 and has covered St. Cloud State University hockey since 2010. A graduate of St. Cloud State, he has more than 30 years of experience as a journalist and has been a youth hockey coach since 2014. mhatten@forumcomm.com

Garrett Raboin talks about being Augustana's first hockey coach, what all is on his agenda, shares memories

The 37-year-old who grew up in Detroit Lakes discusses his visions for the Vikings, putting together a staff, a roster, helping pick equipment, having input on a new arena. He also discusses helping coach two teams to Frozen Four appearances and shares memories from his playing, coaching careers.