WEEKEND PREVIEW: Robertson Cup Finals Rematch

Oct 8, 2015

Photo credit: Daily Herald

The fans that packed Riverside Arena on Saturday night in Austin got treated to some early action when Gilbert Gabor scored just 1:45 into the game. They were still standing when Logan Haskins made it 2-0 just 13 seconds later. First period dominance was the theme of the weekend as the Bruins outscored the Brookings Blizzard 7-0 in opening frames on their way to 4-1 and 6-3 victories in a sweep of Kyle Grabowski’s former team. That’s four wins in a row and five of six for the Bruins, who enter another home and home – this time with the defending Robertson Cup Champs, the team that ended their 2014-15 season – the Minnesota Wilderness.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR –

Out for revenge: Most Bruins fans are well aware that the Wilderness was the team that swept the weekend in mid-May of last year, making Austin the national runner-up for the 2nd year in a row. Game one was the longest in NAHL history, ending at the 13:03 mark of the fourth overtime when Billy Exell scored the game winner. The Wilderness took game 2 the following night by a 4-0 final to claim the Cup.

Three-pietro: Forward Dawson DiPietro has scored goals in three straight games, dating back to the final game of the NAHL Showcase against Kenai River on September 26th. He’s well on his way to topping his rookie mark of 11 goals in 49 games between Topeka and Coulee Region last season.

Kristofer Star-lson: Kris Carlson stopped 51 of 55 total shots in the sweep of Brookings and captured NAHL First Star of the Week honors, become the second straight Bruin to win the award. (Jade Miller last week) Carlson stopped a penalty shot in the first period of Saturday’s win, awarded to Peter Valent.

Spreading the Wealth: Nine of the 10 goals scored by Bruins skaters last weekend were by different players. The aforementioned Dawson DiPietro scored in each game but between Evan Cholak, Travis Kothenbeutel, Luke Forfar, Gilbert Gabor, Logan Haskins, A.J. Drobot, Justin Misiak, and Dalton Gally, the offense came from up and down the lineup against Brookings.

THE MATCHUP –

Central Division Standings:

TEAM

GP

W

L

OTL

PTS

Austin

8

5

3

0

10

Minot

7

4

1

2

10

Aberdeen

6

4

2

0

8

Brookings

8

4

4

0

8

Bismarck

7

2

5

0

4

MN Magicians

6

2

4

0

4

Midwest Division Standings:

TEAM

GP

W

L

OTL

PTS

Fairbanks

10

8

1

1

17

Janesville

8

5

2

1

11

MN Wilderness

8

4

3

1

9

Springfield

6

4

2

0

8

Coulee Region

6

2

4

0

4

Kenai River

10

1

9

0

2

2014-15 HEAD TO HEAD (BRUINS WENT 5-4-1)                           

11/21/14    Austin 1 at MN Wilderness 3

11/22/14    Austin 2 at MN Wilderness 4    

12/06/14    MN Wilderness 1 at Austin 2 SO 

01/28/15    MN Wilderness 3 at Austin 2 SO 

02/20/15    Austin 4 at MN Wilderness 3 SO 

02/21/15    Austin 5 at MN Wilderness 4 OT 

03/13/15    MN Wilderness 1 at Austin 4    

03/14/15    MN Wilderness 2 at Austin 5

——-ROBERTSON CUP FINAL——-

05/15/15    MN Wilderness 2 at Austin 1  4OT

05/15/15    MN Wilderness 4 at Austin 0

 

2015-16 HEAD TO HEAD

10/09/15    @ Austin – 7:05 PM 

10/10/15    @ MN Wilderness – 7:30 PM    

12/18/15    @ Austin – 7:05 PM 

01/07/16    @ MN Wilderness – 7:30 PM    

 

HOW TO FOLLOW THE GAMES –

The puck drops on Friday night from Riverside Arena at 7:05 PM Central Time, gates opening at 6:00. Tickets can be purchased at HyVee, Jim’s Marketplace, Games People Play, and the Holiday Inn at rates of $11 for adults and $8 for students and seniors (65+). Prices at the door are $15 and $12. Saturday’s game is a 7:30 PM start at Northwoods CU Arena.

Fans can watch both games on FASTHockey.com, with the “HOME” feed carrying the Bruins broadcast network on Friday, and the “AWAY” feed on Saturday. Broadcast coverage begins 10 minutes prior to puck drop. Intermission updates for both games will be posted via @theaustinbruins on Twitter.