Bruins open with 2-1 loss
Published 10:19 pm Saturday, October 2, 2010

Austin Bruins’ wing Edgar Rybakov checks Owatonna Express forward Ben Otto up against the boards during the second period Saturday night at Riverside Arena. – Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Austin Bruins made their Riverside Arena debut Saturday and once they got over the bright lights and crowd, they were just fine in a 2-1 loss to the Owatonna Express in an NAHL game.
Owatonna took the lead for good with 6:15 left in the game when Blake Schammel knocked in a shot from the left side on a late break.
“It was a puck that could’ve been icing, but they hustled and it was a good call,” Austin head coach Chris Tok said. “I think our goalie (Keegan Asmundson) would like to have that one back, but that’s what happens when you put pucks on the net they find ways to go in.”
Austin (1-4 overall) scored its only goal with 12:28 left in the third period when James Dickinson battered home a point blank rebound off his own miss to tie the game at one. Dickinson has three goals on the season.

Austin Bruins’ right wing James Dickinson has his shot go just wide of Owatonna Express goalie Charles Williams in the first period of Austin’s first home game Saturday night at Riverside Arena. – Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Bruins put themselves in an early hole by picking up seven penalties in a first period that saw the Express out-shoot them 13-8. Austin ended up out-shooting Owatonna 36-24 on the night.
“We kind of watched for twenty minutes and saw how many people were in the crowd and that was the difference in the game,” Tok said. “When you’re watching, you’re going to get stick penalties. We weren’t moving our feet.”
Owatonna’s first goal came on a power play when Chris Bournazos knocked one in.
The game ended with a preview of what could be a budding rivalry between the Express and Bruins — who play each other 10 more times this year. Right after the final buzzer sounded, Austin’s Matt Pilot was wrapped up on the ice with Owatonna’s Joe Adams — who lifted his jersey towards the crowd after the skirmish was broken up.
“They know that it’s going to be a rivalry and they know the people of Austin don’t like Owatonna in all of the other sports that they compete against them in,” Tok said. “Our guys see that and they’ll take matters into their own hands and make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
The Bruins drew a crowd of 1,264 as they packed Riverside Arena.
“It was great to see the fans come out and if they come back again we’ll give them a better effort for sixty minutes not forty minutes,” Tok said.

Owatonna’s Matt Youso is ridden into the boards by Austin’s Chris Westin during the first period Saturday night at Riverside Arena in Austin. – Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Owatonna1 0 1 — 2
Austin 0 0 1 — 1
First period
(O) 7:15 Chris Bournazos (powerplay) (Garrett Orhn, Marian Fiala)
Second period
No scoring
Third period
(A) 7:24 James Dickinson (shorthanded) (Connor Quinn)
(O) 13:42 Blake Schammel (Ben Otto, Marian Fiala)
Shots: Austin — 36; Owatonna — 24
Powerplays: Austin — 0-for-7; Owatonna — 1-for-8
Saves — Keegan Asmundson (A) — 22