by John Peterson
Two days after making his Division I college commitment, Jay Dickman (Shoreview, MN) picked up three points in leading the Austin Bruins (36-18-1) to a 5-3 win over the Minnesota Magicians (19-29-6) at Riverside Arena Friday night.
The Bruins took the first lead of the game while short-handed, when captain Josh Bretner (N. Potomac, MD) sped past the Magicians’ defense, and received a pass from Luke Dietsch (St. Paul, MN) in stride. Bretner then lifted the shot into the top shelf over Minnesota goaltender Atte Tolvanen (Vihti, Finland). The Magicians tied the game at 1-1 on that same power-play, when Matt Colford (Champlin, MN) tapped in a loose puck that sat in the crease after it trickled past Bruins goalie Nick Lehr (Roseville, MN). Late in the period, Minnesota took its first lead when Mario Bianchi (Bloomington, MN) redirected a centering pass into the net from the top of the crease. Although Austin led 12-7 in shots in the opening frame, the Bruins trailed 2-1 at the first intermission.
Bemidji State University commit, Dickman knotted the score at 2-2 in the second period when he circled the net, turned in the right circle and snapped a quick wrist shot into the top shelf. The Bruins then regained the lead when Jake Arroyo (Bolingbrook, IL) fired a quick snap shot from the point that bounced off of a body and trickled past Tolvanen. The goal was initially waved off, but the goal light went on behind the net. At the next whistle, the play was reviewed and called a good goal. Austin dominated the period, outshooting Minnesota 14-6, and carried a 3-2 lead into the third period.
Colford sped past the Bruins defense and slid a backhander through the five-hole of Lehr to tie the game at 3-3 early in the third, but Austin regained the lead quickly. 21 seconds after the Magicians’ goal, Guillaume Leclerc (Franois, France) batted in a rebound out of a net-mouth scramble to put the Bruins in front 4-3. In the final minute, Dickman picked up an empty-net goal to cap a three point night, as Austin won its 24th home game of the season. Lehr stopped 16 shots in the win, while Tolvanen made 32 saves in the loss.
The Bruins will host the Magicians one final time Saturday night before finishing the season with back-to-back weekend series with the Bismarck Bobcats. Saturday’s game will start at 7:05pm and can be seen on fasthockey.com. Tickets are still available at the Bruins ticket office, HyVee, Games People Play and Walgreens in Austin.
