CCHA Reporter’s Corner: Will Svenddal talks hockey journey, Augustana’s stellar 2025-26 season
Release Date: 01/16/2026
The CCHA Reporter's Corner
On the 47th episode of co-hosts Jared Rubado and Trent Singer talk with St. Thomas rookie forward Nathan Pilling. Born in Calgary, Alberta, Pilling is one of 10 freshmen for the Tommies, who have won 10 in a row and are currently in control of the first-place spot in the CCHA standings with an overall record of 16-7-3. With 23 points on 11 goals and 12 assists, Pilling has played a big part in UST’s success in 2025-26. The 6-foot-4 attacker is tied for the team lead in shorthanded goals (three) and has recorded a pair of game-winning tallies on the season. The Tommies have a...
info_outlineThe CCHA Reporter's Corner
continues this week with episode No. 46. Co-hosts Jared Rubado and Trent Singer welcome in Bowling Green junior blueliner Breck McKinley. Hailing from St. Albert, Alberta, McKinley joined the Falcons’ program in 2023-24 and has emerged as a defensive force this season for a Bowling Green team that’s 4-1-1 over its last six games and is now 12-6-4 on the season. McKinley is tied for third on the team in points with 18 (two goals, 16 assists). As it stands, the Falcons are sitting in fourth place in the CCHA standings with 30 points and a 9-4-3 league record. McKinley talks in this...
info_outlineThe CCHA Reporter's Corner
The CCHA Reporter’s Corner rolls on this week with its 45th episode, in which co-hosts Jared Rubado and Trent Singer welcome in Augustana senior defenseman Will Svenddal. A native of Minneapolis, Svenddal served alongside teammate Ben Troumbly as an ambassador for the Vikings’ program in 2022-23, a year before the team played its inaugural season. The 6-foot-1 blueliner is an alternate captain on this year’s Vikings squad, which will play a home series this weekend versus Ferris State. AU (14-6-3) is currently ranked No. 15 in both national polls and is sitting at No. 12 in the NCAA...
info_outlineThe CCHA Reporter's Corner
This week marks episode No. 44 of the CCHA Reporter’s Corner, as well as a refreshing rebrand for the listening audience. Since the start of the 2024-25 season, co-hosts Jared Rubado and Trent Singer have been talking with players and coaches from around the CCHA, but the start of the new year has brought about some exciting new changes to the show. Beginning in 2026, the CCHA Reporter’s Corner is now available to watch on It’s a new era for the show, and it wouldn’t be made possible without the hard work and expertise of producer Cordell Wright. Listeners can continue to take in the...
info_outlineThe CCHA Reporter's Corner
On this week's episode of "The Reporter's Corner," Jared and Trent interview Alex Tracy of the Minnesota State Mavericks. Hosts is a sports reporter for Sioux Falls Live. He focuses his coverage on Augustana men's hockey and Sioux Falls area sports. Singer's previous stops include Just Women's Sports, the Southeast Missourian and the Kentucky New Era. took over as sports editor at the Bemidji Pioneer in February 2023 after working as a sports reporter at the Alexandria Echo Press and sports editor of the Detroit Lakes Tribune, Perham Focus and Wadena...
info_outlineThe CCHA Reporter's Corner
On the fourth episode of Season 2 of the "The Reporter's Corner," Jared and Trent are joined by Jack Hittinger and Lucas Pipenhagen in previewing the Bemidji State Beavers. Hosts is a sports reporter for Sioux Falls Live. He focuses his coverage on Augustana men's hockey and Sioux Falls area sports. Singer's previous stops include Just Women's Sports, the Southeast Missourian and the Kentucky New Era. took over as sports editor at the Bemidji Pioneer in February 2023 after working as a sports reporter at the Alexandria Echo Press and sports editor of...
info_outlineThe CCHA Reporter's Corner
On the seventh episode of Season 2 of the "The Reporter's Corner," Jared and Trent are joined by Tim Braun and Matt Cavender of the Chasing MacNaughton Podcast to preview the 2025-26 Michigan Tech Huskies. Hosts is a sports reporter for Sioux Falls Live. He focuses his coverage on Augustana men's hockey and Sioux Falls area sports. Singer's previous stops include Just Women's Sports, the Southeast Missourian and the Kentucky New Era. took over as sports editor at the Bemidji Pioneer in February 2023 after working as a sports reporter at the Alexandria Echo...
info_outlineThe CCHA Reporter's Corner
On this week's episode of "The Reporter's Corner," Jared and Trent talk to Brett Meerman of the Augustana Vikings. Hosts is a sports reporter for Sioux Falls Live. He focuses his coverage on Augustana men's hockey and Sioux Falls area sports. Singer's previous stops include Just Women's Sports, the Southeast Missourian and the Kentucky New Era. took over as sports editor at the Bemidji Pioneer in February 2023 after working as a sports reporter at the Alexandria Echo Press and sports editor of the Detroit Lakes Tribune, Perham Focus and Wadena...
info_outlineThe CCHA Reporter's Corner
On the third episode of Season 2 of the "The Reporter's Corner," Jared and Trent are joined by former Buldogs SID and radio voice Harrison Watt in previewing the 2025-26 season for Ferris State University. Hosts is a sports reporter for Sioux Falls Live. He focuses his coverage on Augustana men's hockey and Sioux Falls area sports. Singer's previous stops include Just Women's Sports, the Southeast Missourian and the Kentucky New Era. took over as sports editor at the Bemidji Pioneer in February 2023 after working as a sports reporter at the Alexandria Echo...
info_outlineThe CCHA Reporter's Corner
On the eighth episode of Season 2 of the "The Reporter's Corner," Jared and Trent bring on Ryan Stieg from TheTripleDeke.com to discuss the St. Thomas Tommies. Hosts is a sports reporter for Sioux Falls Live. He focuses his coverage on Augustana men's hockey and Sioux Falls area sports. Singer's previous stops include Just Women's Sports, the Southeast Missourian and the Kentucky New Era. took over as sports editor at the Bemidji Pioneer in February 2023 after working as a sports reporter at the Alexandria Echo Press and sports editor of the Detroit Lakes...
info_outlineThe CCHA Reporter’s Corner rolls on this week with its 45th episode, in which co-hosts Jared Rubado and Trent Singer welcome in Augustana senior defenseman Will Svenddal.
A native of Minneapolis, Svenddal served alongside teammate Ben Troumbly as an ambassador for the Vikings’ program in 2022-23, a year before the team played its inaugural season. The 6-foot-1 blueliner is an alternate captain on this year’s Vikings squad, which will play a home series this weekend versus Ferris State.
AU (14-6-3) is currently ranked No. 15 in both national polls and is sitting at No. 12 in the NCAA Percentage Index, which would qualify the Vikings for an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament if the season ended today.
In this episode, Svenddal discusses how he got his start in hockey, playing at the varsity level for The Blake School in Minneapolis. He talks about his experience in getting to play in the prestigious Minnesota boys hockey state tournament as well as his junior hockey days with the Minnesota Magicians.
Svenddal also dives into why he decided Augustana was the best fit for him, the early days of the Vikings’ program and what it was like being a part of building a fledgling program, which is already in national contention in only its third year of existence.
What makes Josh Kotai so special? Is Christian Manz the next great Vikings goaltender? What do players like Hayden Hennen and Brett Meerman bring to the table? Svenddal breaks all of that down — and more — in this episode.
The CCHA Reporter's Corner is a weekly college hockey show that’s brought to you by Rubado, Singer and producer Cordell Wright, featuring players and coaches from around the CCHA.
To watch this show and to see clips and highlights from this episode with Will Svenddal, head on over to Midwest Sports Plus, the home of The CCHA Reporter’s Corner.
For the audio-only version, subscribe to The CCHA Reporter’s Corner on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever podcasts are available. Follow Singer and Rubado on X — @trentsinger and @JaredRubadoBP — and throughout the week, check out their work at siouxfallslive.com and bemidjipioneer.com.