AUSTIN, MN – The Austin Bruins made four selections in the 2023 NAHL Draft on Wednesday afternoon, including three forwards and a goaltender.
With the 4th overall pick (acquired via a trade with the Danbury Jr. Hattricks) the Bruins selected ’03 Forward Will Diamond of the Omaha Lancers (USHL). A native of Carpentersville, IL, Diamond would bring some size and speed to the Bruins’ forward line as the 6’4″, 196lbs forward finished the 2022-23 campaign with the Omaha Lancers. Diamond appeared in 43 games and collected 7 assists. Diamond also has NAHL experience as before joining Omaha, Diamond was a member of the Aberdeen Wings during the 2021-22 season.
The following selection for the Bruins would come in the 2nd round as with the 56th overall pick, the Bruins would select ’03 Forward Gustav Norén from Örebro, Sweden. Norén recently played for Örebro HK J20 and served as their Alternate Captain. The 5’11”, 172lbs Centermen appeared in 46 games and had a stat line of 8G-8A-16P.
In the 3rd round, the Bruins would draft a familiar face to Austin as with the 90th overall pick, the Bruins would select ’04 Goaltender Matt MacArthur from the Chicago Mission 18U AAA. MacArthur joined the Bruins late during the 2022-23 season as an emergency backup goaltender (EBUG) after the injury to Ethan Robertson which sidelined him for the remainder of the year. MacArthur would appear in one game for the Bruins (April 15th vs. Minot) in which he would stop all 24 shots he would face en route to his first career NAHL win and Shutout. MacArthur also served as the backup to Trent Wiemken during the Bruins’ 2023 Robertson Cup Playoff run.
With the final pick for the Bruins during the 2023 NAHL, they would select another familiar name in Erik Hernborn from the Rochester Grizzlies (NA3HL) with the 122nd pick in the 4th round. The 6’2″, 190lbs forward from Sollentuna, Sweden appeared in 4 games for the Bruins which here has a stat line of 1G-1A-2P. Hernborn would play the majority of the 2022-23 season, however, with the Rochester Grizzlies where he appeared in 38 games and had 11G-15A-26P in his first season of Junior Hockey in the United States.
With the 2023 NAHL Draft finished, the Bruins now look ahead to the 2023 Main Camp at the end of the month as many returning and new faces will come to Austin in the hope of earning a spot on the 2023-24 Roster. The Bruins Main Camp begins on Wednesday, June 28th, and will conclude on July 1st with the Black and Gold All-Star Game. Main Camp is open to the public and ticket information for the Black and Gold All-Star Game will be available in the coming days.
