WATERTOWN SHAMROCKS (15-13-0-0) vs. AUSTIN BRUINS (22-6-2-1)
PRAIRIE LAKES ICE ARENA | NAHL REGULAR SEASON | GAME #29 AND #30 | JANUARY 9 AND 10, 2026
The Watertown Shamrocks will host the Austin Bruins on Friday and Saturday at 7:00 p.m. in Prairie Lakes Ice Arena. It will be the Shamrocks’ twenty-ninth and thirtieth regular-season games of the 2025-26 season. This is the fourth regular-season matchup between these two teams.
This weekend, the Watertown Shamrocks will be wearing their 2025-26 Guns & Hoses jerseys. In 2025, the Watertown Shamrocks partnered with the Watertown Community Foundation to establish the End of Watch Fund. The End of Watch fund provides financial support to the families of Watertown Police Officers and Firefighters who lose their lives in the line of duty. All profits from the Guns & Hoses jersey auction will be donated to the End of Watch Fund. Fans have the opportunity to bid on these jerseys, worn during January 9 and 10. Follow this link to the auction.
THIS SEASON:
So far this season, the Shamrocks have gone 3-3 against the Bruins in their six games.
In the first set of games, the Shamrocks and Bruins split the series in Prairie Lakes Ice Arena. On Friday night, Watertown secured a 2-1 overtime victory. Goalie Mason Gudridge made 38 out of 39 saves to keep the Shamrocks in it for a win. On Saturday, the Bruins came out hot in the first with three goals and held onto that lead. Despite goals from Justin Obrochta and Owen Chartier, the Bruins stayed ahead 2-5.
In the second set of games, the Shamrocks swept the Bruins at Riverside Arena in two separate 4-3 victories. On Friday, the Shamrocks took a 2-1 lead, but lost it in the third. Owen Chartier scored the game-winner in the final minutes of period three to put them back on top 4-3. On Saturday, Watertown came out with three quick goals in the first. The Shamrocks then scored in the second, holding on to their victory in the third, 4-3.
In the third set of games, the Shamrocks were swept by the Bruins at Riverside Arena. In the first period, Shamrocks’ goalie Aden Gariepy and Bruins’ goalie Cody Butikis held the game scoreless. The Shamrocks and Bruins exchanged goals in the second, netting the only two Shamrocks goals. The Bruins scored four goals in the third, for a final score of 2-5. On Saturday, the Shamrocks were held to just one goal by Joe Rice. The Bruins scored three goals in the next two periods for a 3-1 win.
WATERTOWN SHAMROCKS:
The Shamrocks will enter this division matchup after sweeping a two-game series against the Minnesota Mallards, 5-2 on Friday and 6-4 on Saturday.
On Friday, the game started with three goals in the first period by Owen Fask, Zach Boren, and Jakov Matijevic. The second period started with a second Boren goal, to put the Shamrocks up 4-0. The Mallards put up goals in the second and third, but the Shamrocks held on to a 5-2 victory. On Saturday, Watertown came out slow, but after being down 2-0, they stormed back in the second period with three goals from three different goal scorers. The Mallards were up 4-3 going into the third, but goals from Erick Comstock, Owen Chartier, and Joe Rice put the Shamrocks ahead 6-4.
The Shamrocks have won three of their last five games and currently sit in fourth place in the Central Division.
AUSTIN BRUINS
The Bruins will travel to Watertown after sweeping the St. Cloud Norsemen 5-1 on Friday and 4-1 on Saturday.
On Friday, the Norsemen scored the first goal of the game, but the Bruins dominated the rest. Matsvei Marshchanok and Gavin Hruza scored in the final two minutes of the first, then Trace Day, EJ Paddington, and Hruza scored in the second. Despite the Norsemen’s 17 shots in the third, they were unable to come back. On Saturday, the story was similar. The Bruins had two goals to start the first period, with St. Cloud scoring on the power play to end the period. Two goals from the Bruins, one in the second and one in the third, allowed them to come away with a 4-1 win.
The Bruins have won five of their last five games and currently sit in first place in the Central Division.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
SHAMROCKS:
- Zach Boren currently leads the team with 18 goals and 33 points, and is second with 15 assists. He scored three goals this weekend.
- Erick Comstock currently leads the team in assists with 20, and scored a goal this weekend.
- Justin Obrochta recorded five assists this weekend, two on Friday and three on Saturday, for a total of 12 assists on the season.
BRUINS:
- Siamion Marshchanok is tied for the team lead in goals with 19, and leads with 39 assists for 58 points on the season. On Friday, he had four assists, and on Saturday, he had one assist.
- Gavin Hruza is tied for the team lead with 19 goals on the season, scoring twice on Friday and once on Saturday.
- Matsvei Marshchanok is second on the team in points with 45, with 18 goals and 27 points. He scored once on Friday and once on Saturday.
By Lily Schutzehofer
Photo by Sarah Cooper