Minotauros finish off a sweep of Bruins
Published 10:18 pm Friday, April 26, 2024
Austin’s Kaden Muir pulls in the puck during the third period against Minot in game three of their Central Division playoff series Friday night in Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Bruins’ Johan Persson and Minot’s Ian Spencer skate into the croner after the puck in the first period Friday night in Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Bruins’ Will Diamond crashes the net in front of Minot’s Brady James during the second period Friday night in Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Bruin’s Dylan Cook angles toward the net during the second period against Minot Friday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Alex Laurenza takes the puck into the Minot zone during the second period in April of 2024. Herald File Photo
The Bruins’ Jackson Rilei battltes with others against the boards during a playoff game Friday night against Minot in Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
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The No. 4 seeded Austin Bruins ended their NAHL Central Division semifinal series against the top-seeded Minot Minotauros the same way it started – with a lopsided loss.
The Minotauros finished off a series sweep and ended the Bruins’ season with a 7-1 victory in Riverside Arena.
Minot won game one of the three-game series 9-1 and they outscored Austin 19-3 in the three games.
“We knew going into the series that Minot would be a tough battle,” Bruins forward Dylan Cook said. “They’re a deep team and we kind of did everything in our power to combat that and at times I thought we did really well, but we just couldn’t sustain it. When you get behind with any team, it’s hard to come back. It’s just unfortunate how it ended.”
Austin took a 1-0 lead when Alex Laurenza scored in a scrum early in the first period, but it wasn’t able to produce enough open looks to stay in the game as Minot put up three goals in the second and third periods.
Trent Wiemken stopped 16 of 23 shots in net for Austin.
Cook, a University of Massachusetts-Lowell commit, played with Austin for two years. He said he had a great experience with the Bruins.
“It’s the best experience I could’ve imagined,” Cook said. “I always heard that it can be hard to fit in on junior teams, but if you came into our locker room, you were one of us right away. The guys I met here in Austin will be some of my best friends for the rest of my life.”
SCORING SUMMARY
Minot 1 3 3 – 7
Austin 1 0 0 – 1
First period
(A) Alex Laurenza (Jackson Luther, Ryan Hintz) 6:25
(M) Joel Lehtinen (Will Dawson, Ty James) 13:07
Second period
(M) Ryan Jockims 6:18
(M) Jack O’Hanisain (Pavol Funtek, Joel Lehtinen) 14:08
(M) Murray Marvin-Cordes (Cayden Casey, Will Dawson) 18:46
Third period
(M) Lehtinen (O’Hanisain, Niklas Ketonen) 4:13
(M) John Emmons (Jordan Gibbs) 9:07
(M) John Small (Colby Woogk) 15:52
