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NAHL Austin Bruins

Bruins Improve in Weekend Sweep of Bismarck

October 25, 2014 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Austin Bruins News Release


Even in victory Friday night, the Austin Bruins collectively knew they had to play better. Friday s showdown with the Bismarck Bobcats was sloppy, to say the least. Saturday the Bruins (8-2-4) were much more impressive in a 5-2 thumping of the Bobcats (6-8-0) to complete a weekend sweep. The two teams will not meet again the rest of the regular season.

Austin jumped out to a quick lead, when Ian Scheid (Coon Rapids, MN) ripped a shot through a screen past Bismarck goalie Hunter Shepard (Grand Rapids, MN) at 3:31 of the first period. Another defenseman, Liam Feeney (Foxboro, MA) jumped into a rush and tapped in a centering feed from Trevor Boyd (Muskegon, MI) to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead 39 seconds later.

Feeney assisted on the next Austin goal at 6:30 of the frame, when Nico Sturm (Augsberg, Germany) jammed a loose puck into the net after Feeney sent a shot on goal from the point. Bismarck scored their only goal of the period late, when Keaton Leininger (Bismarck, ND) split the Bruins defense on an offensive-zone faceoff win and followed up his own rebound. With Bruins goalie Jake Kielly (Eden Prairie, MN) falling back into his net, Leininger tapped the puck across the goal line.

Luke Dietsch (St. Paul, MN) opened the lead back up to 4-1 just 27 seconds into the second period, after a point shot was blocked and landed on his stick in front of the net. Dietsch took his time and lifted the rebound over Shepard into the top shelf. Just over two minutes later, Jacob Kullberg (Kallered, Sweden) picked up his third goal of the weekend on a juicy rebound that bounced out him in the slot. The goal gave Austin a 5-1 lead and chased Shepard from the game for Friday s starter Alex Bitsakis (Montreal, Quebec).

Bismarck s only other goal came on a delayed penalty, when Evan Giesler (Naperville, IL) fired a shot past Kielly scrambling back into position from a net-mouth collision. The Bruins had a 20-6 shots advantage through two periods, and were well in command of the game with a 5-2 lead.

In a scoreless third period, both goaltenders were called upon for sensational saves. Kielly robbed Geisler from the splits with his right pad, and Bitsakis flashed the glove on multiple Austin rushes at the other end. Kielly stopped 16 shots for his fourth win of the season, and still is without a regulation loss in his young career.

Next weekend, the Bruins face the Coulee Region Chill for the first time this season in a home-and-home series Friday and Saturday night. The Chill come to Austin for the first time in two years Friday night for a Halloween tilt at 7:05pm. Then Saturday, the Bruins head to Lacrosse, WI for a 7pm rematch. Tickets for Friday s game are available at several area locations, including Jim s Marketplace, Games People Play, Hy-Vee, Walgreens and the Holiday Inn, as well as the Bruins box office.

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