AUSTIN, Minn. – The Austin Bruins continued their busy off-season on Wednesday, selecting five players in the NAHL Entry Draft. The Bruins spent most of their draft selections on the blueline, picking four total defensemen.
In the first round, the Bruins selected defenseman Drew Tsakounis with the thirteenth overall pick. Tsakounis, 17, spent the 2020-21 season with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL where he played nine games. The Arlington, VA, native already has his collegiate commitment, intending on playing for Penn State University.
In the following round, the Bruins made two total selections. With their first, the 37th overall selection, Austin took Marian Haborak. The 5-foot-10, 181-pound, blueliner played three games in 2020-21 with HC Slovan Bratislava U20. Prior to his year in Slovakian juniors, Haborak played a year of collegiate hockey in Canada with Stanstead College. In addition, Haborak played on the Slovakian world cup team in 2019-20 where he registered four points in 10 games played.
Later in the second round, the Bruins stayed on the defensive side of things by selecting Max Burkholder of the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Burkholder, 17, played 42 games last season for Dubuque with two goals and two assists to his name. The Chaska, MN, native has already announced his collegiate plans and intends to compete for Colorado College after juniors.
After some time, the Bruins made their penultimate selection in the sixth round, taking their final defenseman, Mason Langenbrunner. The Dallas, TX, born player spent most of his high school years in Minnesota playing one season for Cloquet High and two more seasons for Eden Prairie, including this most recent season. Langenbrunner finished 2020-21 with five goals and 26 assists for 31 total points for the Eagles.
And with the final selection, the Bruins used their seventh-round pick to take their lone forward, Dylan Gajewski. Having played 2020-21 with the Willmar Warhawks of the NA3HL, Gajewski averaged more than a point per game with 26 total points in 24 contests. A native of Woodhaven, MI, also has junior experience playing in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League where he played for the Powassan VooDoos in 2019-20.
Up next for the Bruins, the coaching staff will evaluate all returning players, tenders, draft picks, and other invitees at main camp. That camp will begin with close to 160 players and quickly be widdled down to about 40. Those remaining 40 will square off in the Bruins Black and Gold game before ultimately seeing final cuts be made down 30 for the preseason.
Season tickets are still available for the Bruins upcoming year by visiting www.austinbruins.com/season-tickets. Early bird pricing is still available at the low price of $175 for students/seniors and $200 for adults.
