RICHFIELD, MN – A pair of power play goals scored just over one minute apart in the third period turned a one goal deficit into a victory for the Austin Bruins on Saturday night at Richfield Arena. The Bruins split the opening weekend of the preseason with the Minnesota Magicians, handing the Magicians their first loss in the team’s final preseason affair.
Jake Kucharski (Erie, PA) played the first half of the game for the Bruins in net and stole the show in the first period, stopped 14 of 14 Magicians shots. The game was scoreless at the end of one period. Late in the 2nd, the home team struck first when former Aberdeen Wing Will Hammer blasted a one-timer off a pass from Mitch Slattery past Alex Schilling (Wayzata, MN) for a 1-0 Magicians lead which they took into the second intermission.
In the late stages of the third, Nathan Nelsen was called for a four minute hit from behind double-minor and the Bruins took advantage scoring on both ends. Evan Cholak netted his second powerplay goal in as many nights, deflecting a point shot from Danny Petrick to tie the game at one before Travis Kothenbeutel put a shot through a screen past goaltender Jacob Dittmer 1:02 later to give the Bruins their first lead. With less than 90 seconds remaining, defenseman Toby Sengvongxay was able to hit the empty Magicians net from his own end of the ice to seal a 3-1 victory. Kucharski stopped all 21 shots he faced while Schilling made 14 of 15.
The Bruins continue their preseason with a Thursday night tilt in Anoka against the Kenai River Brown Bears before wrapping it up at home against Kenai River on Saturday night at 7:05. Tickets for that game go on sale for just $5 general admission starting Monday at Hy Vee, Jim’s Marketplace, Games People Play, and the Austin Holiday Inn.
