Breaking wave: Ocean Wallace helps Bruins snap 4-game losing skid after return from break
Published 10:27 pm Friday, December 29, 2023
Austin’s Landon Dauner looks back for the puck during the first period against North Iowa Friday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Bruin’s Alex Laurenza (19) angles toward the net under the pressure of North Iowa’s Christin Heckman Friday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Bruins Austin Salani runs the puck along the boards during the second period Friday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Bruins’ Ocean Wallace battles through the North Iowa defense in the second period Friday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Bruins Isaak Brassard reaches for the puck during the second period against North Iowa Friday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Parker Anderson, left, and North Iowa’s Jordan Newpower battle against the boards Friday night during the first period at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
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The Austin Bruins came back from their winter break with a renewed vigor as they bounced back from early setback to snap a four-game losing streak and beat the North Iowa Bulls (6-21-0-2 overall) 5-3 in Riverside Arena Friday.
The Bulls scored twice in the first 14 minutes of the game to take a 2-0 lead, but Austin forward Ocean Wallace scored off the post in the second period to tie the game at 2-2 and he gave the Bruins a 3-2 lead when he scored in the third.
Wallace, who is from Boulder, Colorado, now has 13 goals on the season, which is his third with Austin (16-12-1 overall).
“It was a rocky start and going down 2-0 is never a good thing,” Wallace said. “We were able to get a big score at the end of the first period and then we were able to win the next 40 minutes.”
Wallace was able to catch up with his brothers out in New York City during the break and he’s now ready to get the Bruins back on track.
“It was really great to see them and it was a great holiday break,” Wallace said. “Now we’re back at it and we’re looking to be the best team in the Central Division. It’s always good to face adversity. It humbles you and it gives you things to work on. We want that to be the skid in our season and it’s only going to be good from here on.”
Gustav Noren had an assist on Austin’s first goal, which came from Kaden Muir with six seconds left in the first, and the Bruins’ last goal, which was scored by Austin Salani on an empty net with .2 seconds left in the game. Noren, who is from Orebro, Alaska, now has 13 assists on the season.
“This was a huge win for us,” Noren said. “I wasn’t too worried early on and I thought we played well, but they’re an opportunistic team and they’ll take what you give them. I thought we had a win in us tonight.”
Noren didn’t make the trip all the way to Alaska during the 10-day break, but he was able to visit Edmonton, Canada with his best friend.
“The mental aspect is a big part of the season and it can tear you down,” Noren said. “It was a much needed break for us and hopefully we can get back on the winning train.”
The Bruins hadn’t scored more than three goals in a game since their last win, which was a 5-4 victory over North Iowa on Dec. 2.
Trent Wiemken finished with 16 saves for Austin.
SCORING SUMMARY
NI 2 0 1 – 3
Austin 1 1 3 – 5
First period
(NI) Max LeDuc (Carter Theissen) 5:56
(NI) Carter Theissen (Ethan Lindahl, Kath Crawrford) 13:52
(A) Kaden Muir (Gustav Noren, Isaak Brassard) 19:54
Second period
(A) Ocean Wallace (Alex Laurenaz, Tristan Zarsky) 7:03
Third period
(A) Ocean Wallace (Laurenza, Muir) 3:56
(A) Dylan Cook (Ashton Bynum, Trent Wiemken) 17:16
(NI) Jayden Veney (Eli Miller) 18:31
(A) Austin Salani (Gustav Noren) 19:59
