Bruins Season Comes to a Close with 3-1 Loss to Aberdeen

Apr 20, 2019

AUSTIN, Minn. – Despite a late surge and powerplay goal by Joe Mysak, the Bruins fell short in their comeback efforts falling to the Aberdeen Wings, 3-1, ending the Bruins season.

In a game that didn’t offer much open ice, nor many stoppages, in the first ten minutes of play, it was the Wings who struck first on the road. Tim Makowski’s shot from the point found its way through traffic and beat a screened Kyle McClellan to give Aberdeen the 1-0 advantage in the first.

Aberdeen would their second tally of the night in the middle period off a two-on-one. Jonathan Bendorf and Thomas Rocco passed back and forth, pulling McClellan out of position and Bendorf stuffed home the puck into a practically wide open net, making the Bruins comeback mountain harder to climb.

Going up against the league’s shutout leader in Matt Vernon, the Bruins were determined to get back into the game and would late in the third period. On the powerplay, Mysak fired a wrister from the top of the right wing circle past Vernon, inching the Bruins closer, 2-1. Despite pulling the goalie and having the extra attacker, Austin came up short against Vernon in their remaining attempts, and John Sladic all but iced the game with an empty-net goal in the final two minutes of the game.  Head Coach Steve Howard pulled his goaltender for the second time in a last ditch effort, but Vernon and the Wings held tall, earning the game and series win.

The first round exit for the Bruins follows up a 2017-18 campaign in which they lost to Minot in the second round. Austin has made the playoffs in seven of their nine seasons. The team is already looking ahead to the 2019-20 season, the team’s Tenth Anniversary. Special promo nights, giveaways, and added experiences are already being slated for the upcoming anniversary year. Season tickets are on sale now starting as low as $175 with reserved seats going for $25. To sign up as a season ticket holder or to market your business through the Austin Bruins, call the Bruins front office at 507-434-4978.