Austin Bruins’ Christian Folin plays the puck behind the Bruins’ goal in a game against Coolie Region in 2011. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Former Austin Bruin defenseman Christian Folin began his NHL career with a bang in Xcel Energy Center Thursday.

Folin, who is a native of Gothenburg, Sweden, made his Minnesota Wild debut against the St. Louis Blues and he came through with an assist and a plus three rating in the Wild’s 4-2 win.

While the NHL is a long way from the NAHL, Austin Bruins’ goalie Nick Lehr said it isn’t a big shock that Folin is playing at the game’s highest level. Lehr was teammates with Folin during the 2011-2012 season.

“You saw how good he was and he brought it every day,” Lehr said. “We knew he was good. He had the size and he and the shot. He took it to the next level as soon as he got to college.”

After two years with the Bruins, Folin starred at UMass-Lowell for two years before being signed by the Minnesota Wild. Folin is ineligible to play for the Wild during the playoffs, but he has a chance to play again in the team’s regular season finale against Nasvhille Sunday at 8 p.m. in Xcel.

Lehr said that Folin’s success is a sign of what the NAHL is all about.

“Just like the league slogan says, it’s a league of opportunity,” said Lehr. “It’s all about taking advantage of what’s in front of you. Every day we’re preparing ourselves to be elite athletes.”

Lehr will play at the University of Minnesota next season and he’s already planning on getting to a couple of Wild games to watch his former teammate play.

“I’ll be trying to catch a game or two,” Lehr said.