The Austin Bruins are turning a new leaf as they prepare for the 2015-2016 season.

Austin has a new coaching staff, it has a bevy of new players and it’s even making some changes to the game night experience.

Kyle Grabowski is the new Bruins head coach and he will be working with a roster that has just four returning players from last year’s Bruins team that played in the Robertson Cup Finals.

“We like the guys that we have,” Grabowski said. “They’re skilled but they have the compete level to go with it. We are going with a bit younger team.”

Austin will open its season at Bismarck 7:15 p.m. Friday. The Bruins will host their Brookings in their home opener Oct. 3.

Jade Miller is one of Austin’s returning players, and he said players are starting to get used to each other and they’re looking forward to starting the season.

“It’ll be a little bit of a task to get the guys to buy into the coaches’ systems and everything,” Miller said. “We had a relatively young team last year too. It’s nothing we aren’t used to. I think we can make it work with what we have and I don’t see any reason for us not making a run at this year.”

Grabowski said that Austin’s returning players — Miller, Derek Olmschenk, Hugo Gallet and Zach Kennedy all have responsibility in leadership this season.

“We have guys who have kind been there and done that. They really drive the culture,” Grabowski said. “They’re all really good character guys and the younger guys watch what they do every day and they pick up on their habits.”

Logan Haskins, a first year forward from Rochester Mayo, said that he goes to practice every day trying to make a mark. Him, and all of the other Bruins players, are chasing after lineup spots that have yet to be claimed.

Haskins said going to play hockey in Austin is an ideal situation for him.

“This is like a dream for me,” he said. “I get to be close to home and I get to play with a team that has been to the last two Robertson Cups. I’m just excited to be here.”

Bruins co-owner Craig Patrick, who said that season ticket sales are the highest they’ve been going into this year, is excited about another season coming up and he expects the team to be able to put up a lot of goals. He’s also pleased with some of the changes that will be coming up this season.

One of the biggest changes is after home games, Bruins players will meet with fans in the lobby to hang out and sign autographs.

“That’s a really big change and it’ll help our fans connect with our players,” Patrick said. “It’ll be good for the boys to interact with the fans and understand even better who they’re playing for.”

Riverside Arena will also benefit from an facilities upgrade that will keep the ice in better shape and make it a better environment for fans.

The Bruins also purchased a new team bus and the there is now a weight room in Riverside that can be used by Bruins players, and Austin High School and youth hockey players.

Patrick said the franchise is still in good shape as it enters its sixth season.

“We have a really strong staff on the business side and everybody’s working hard,” Patrick said. “We’re building slowly and consistently. We’re going in the right direction and Mike Cooper has been a huge help as a co-owner.”