Fans packed into Riverside Arena and it was standing room only Saturday night for the Austin Bruins hockey game.
This was the special "Paint the Rink Pink Night" to battle breast cancer and in support of the Hormel Institute’s world-renowned cancer research center.
They painted the ice a pinkish hue, the players had pink uniforms, and even the tape on their sticks was colored accordingly for the event.
An announced crowd of 1,900 made this the first sellout in the inaugural season for the Bruins. The game got off to a good start with an early lead, but the visiting Coulee Region Chill came back for a 3-1 win over the Bruins.
For the second night in a row the Austin Bruins had more shots than the visiting Chill, the top team in the North American Hockey League, Central Division.
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Alex Tesensky of the Bruins got the big crowd fired up with the first goal of the night. The goal came with just over seven minutes to play in the first period.
This was the eighth goal of the season for Tesensky and his 19th point. The home team held a 1-0 lead after the first period, but then penalties took a toll.
In the second period, the Bruins took a penalty during the opening five minutes. The Chill quickly scored on the power play to tie the game.
Soon after the first goal by the Chill a fight broke out and a pair of five-minute majors were issued. The physical play continued and the Bruins took a total of three penalties in the period. The Chill added another power play goal and took a 2-1 lead at the end of the second period.
Austin had five more shots on goal in the game, but goalie Paul Moberg of Coulee Region stopped 35 of the 36 shots he faced on the night. Bruins goalie Keegan Asmundson had 28 saves in the loss.
Austin (14-22-3) travels to Bismarck, N.D. next weekend for a pair of games at the VFW Sports Center.
COULEE REGION 3, AUSTIN BRUINS 1
Coulee#0#2#1#—#3
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Austin#1#0#0#—#1
First period— Austin, Alex Tesensky (Dawson Kuhlmann, Nolan Kirely), 12:48.
Second period— CR, Connor Gaarder (Andrew Pitts, Matt Blomquist), 4:33 (pp). CR, Micky Knox (Zac Frischmon, Lucas Dillon), 17:42 (pp).
Third period— CR, Knox (Frishmon), 4:15.
Shots-on-goal— Coulee Region 11-11-9—31. Austin 10-12-14—36.
Goalies— CR, Paul Moberg (36 shots, 35 saves). Austin, Keegan Asmundson (31 shots, 28 saves).
Power plays— Coulee Region 2-for-6, Austin 0-for-2.
