Offensive Explosion Leads Bruins Past Minotauros, 7-5

Dec 13, 2019

AUSTIN, Minn. –  Connor Mylymok netted two goals and the Bruins scored a season-high seven goals to take down the Minot Minotauros, 7-5, on Teddy Bear Toss night at Riverside Arena.

On a night where everyone is on edge waiting for the Bruins to score their first goal so they teddy bears could come raining down onto the ice, it didn’t take long. Just 4:41 into the first period, Connor Mylymok scored his third goal of the season, his first of the night, to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. After the collection of teddy bears and other stuffed animals, the Bruins struck for a second time when Kevin Gabor intercepted a Minot pass in the slot and rifled a wrister past AJ Ruskowski for the 2-0 Bruins lead. Later in the first, Austin increased their lead to 3-0 when Adam Szubert sent in a wrist-shot that careened off a Minot defenseman’s foot and through Ruskowski’s legs. Still in the first period, Minot was able to stop the bleeding when Dan Russell scored his first goal of the night to bring  the score to 3-1.

In the second, Ben Alqmuist got the Riverside crowd to their feet in a hurry scoring his 16th goal of the season just 33 seconds into the period. The Minotauros contined to fight back, thanks again to Russell, making things 4-2 midway through the second frame, but the Bruins took control once again. Carson Riddle pounded home a net-front-scramble goal, while Mylymok added his second of the night to send Austin into the locker room with a 6-2 lead.

In the third, the Bruins were outscored – but it wasn’t enough. Minot managed to get back-to-back goals, but a Josef Mysak empty netter was enough to seal the Minotauros fate as the Bruins won 7-5.

Connor Mylymok, Ben Almquist, Kevin Gabor, and Hugh Larkin all had multiple point nights, while Minot had a pair of two-goal-gamers in Nik Armstrong-Kingkade and Dan Russell. Brett Miller earned the win for the Bruins while AJ Ruskowski shouldered the loss. With the victory, the Bruins improved to 14-9-2-2 while the Minotauros slid to 15-8-1-2.

Up next, the two teams will battle in a rematch on Saturday night at Riverside Arena, the final home game of the 2019 calendar year for the Bruins. It’s Austin Youth Hockey night at the game where all members of Austin Youth Hockey will receive free admission with a paid adult. It’s also the team’s second Hometown Hero night presented by Hormel Foods. For discounted tickets, stop by any of the Bruins vendors including Games People Play, Hy-Vee, Holdiay Inn, and Jim’s Marketplace.