Six Selected by Bruins in NAHL Entry Draft

Jul 21, 2020

AUSTIN, Minn. – For the second time in two months, the Austin Bruins added to their stable of players, selecting six in this season’s NAHL Entry Draft. In mid-May, the Bruins selected two defensemen and a goaltender in the NAHL’s Supplemental Draft and followed it up on Tuesday by selecting four forwards and two defensemen.

Off the board first for the Bruins was forward Alex Trombley out of Howell, MI, with the 18th overall pick. Trombley was tendered by the Bruins in 2018-19 but played exclusively in the USHL with the Madison Capitals for the 2019-20 season where he registered an assist in eight games played. Prior to playing in the USHL, Trombley competed for the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies AAA team and also competed for the Bismarck Bobcats for 27 games in 2017-18 where he racked up five goals during that span. The 6-foot, 161-pounder is committed to playing college hockey at Ohio State University (NCAA DI). For the Bruins, this was the first offensive selection this off-season.

In the second round, the Bruins returned to the blue-line picking Therien Thiesing with the 45th overall pick. Thiesing, 17, spent the last four season playing in the Chicago Mission program and most recently competed with their U16 team. The Franklin, IL, native is familiar with the NAHL after his older brother, Camden, played for the Chippewa Steel in 2018-19. Thiesing marks the third d-man taken by the Bruins this offseason following Jackson McCarthy and Ben Dexheimer who were selected in the NAHL Supplemental Draft.

Without a third-round pick, the Bruins had two selections in the fourth round. Up next, the Bruins took Rosemount, MN, native Garrett Horsager at 93 overall. The 6-foot, 170-pound defenseman played the last two seasons at Rosemount High and registered 26 total points in 47 games as served as an assistant captain in 2019-20. Six picks later, the Bruins went back to the offense selecting forward Jimmy Akouri. At 5-foot-8, 170-pounds, Akouri registered 35 total points in 39 games for the Compuware AAA program in the last three seasons.

In the fifth round, with the 126th overall selection, the Bruins took forward Mason Poolman out of East Grand Forks High School. Poolman, 18, played three seasons of high school hockey for East Grand Forks competing in 70 total games while acquiring 40 total points. In addition to playing high school hockey, Poolman played for Team North in the Minnesota High School Elite League where he scored two goals and added four assists in 17 games played.

With the final selection of the 2020 NAHL Entry Draft, the Austin Bruins kept it local selecting Gavin Gunderson of Rochester, MN. In 2019-20, Gunderson played all across the state including for his high school, Rochester Century, Team Northwest of the Minnesota Elite League, and for the Rochester Grizzlies of the NA3HL. All-in-all, the 18-year-old Gunderson registered 66 total points in 48 games across the three leagues. For the Rochester Grizzlies, Gunderson played five games and tallied two assists late in the season.

With the conclusion of the NAHL Entry draft, all player selections have been completed for the offseason. Between both the NAHL Supplemental Draft and the NAHL Entry Draft, the Bruins selected four forwards, four defensemen, and one goaltender. Up next for the newest Bruins, they’ll have the chance to earn a spot on the Bruins roster by competing in the teams Main Camp in late July. Capping off the Main Camp on July 31 is the All-Star game where the final 40 players are split up and will scrimmage against each other in an attempt to land on the Bruins final roster. Tickets for the All-Star Game are $10 and on sale now through the Bruins front office by calling 507-434-4978.