AUSTIN, MN – For the first time since the 2014-2015 Season, the Austin Bruins are the Regular Season Central Division Champions.
After securing a playoff spot last weekend, the Bruins looked to lock down the Division Saturday night against the St. Cloud Norsemen. A little over six minutes into the first period, Maple Grove, MN native Josh Giuliani would give the Bruins the early 1-0 with his 20th goal of the season while on the Chad Thomas-Exit Realty Refined Power Play. Gavin Morrissey and Jack Malinski would combine on the assist. A few minutes later, however, the Norsemen would get their first of the night from Hunter Hanson, this 11th, to tie the game up and keep it that way after the first twenty minutes at Riverside Arena.
Hogan Sinjem would get the lone goal in the 2nd period as he would give St. Cloud their first lead of the night, at 5:58 of the period. This would be the sole goal of the middle frame. Coming out of the intermission, the Bruins knew they had to come out strong and did just that. Dylan Cook would net his 15th of the season just thirteen seconds into the 3rd period to tie the game up at 2-2. From there, Trent Wiemken would keep things tight to force overtime. Five minutes of overtime would not decide the game so the game would find its way to a shootout. Walter Zacher would score the lone shootout goal for the Bruins as Trent Wiemken would stop all three shots he would face securing the 3-2 win. Wiemken would stop 33 of the 35 shots he would face.
Up next, the Bruins head to St. Cloud on Thursday, March 30th to the second of three-straight with the Norsemen before returning to Riverside on Saturday, April 1st.
