NUMBER 4 WATERTOWN SHAMROCKS (31-23-3-2) vs. NUMBER 1 AUSTIN BRUINS (43-12-2-2)
RIVERSIDE ARENA | NAHL ROBERTSON CUP PLAYOFFS | GAME #1 AND #2 | APRIL 17 AND 18, 2026
The Watertown Shamrocks will travel to play the Austin Bruins on Friday and Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Riverside Arena. It will be the first and second games of the 2026 Robertson Cup Playoffs. These are the first two games in the best-of-five series.
THIS SEASON:
This season, the Shamrocks went 5-3 against the Bruins in their eight 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.
In the fourth set of games, the Shamrocks swept the Bruins at Prairie Lakes Ice Arena. On Friday, both teams were scoreless in the first. The Shamrocks scored twice in the second period, with goals from Owen Chartier and Payton Struck. Chartier then scored a second goal in the third period to beat the Bruins two. On Saturday, similarly, the Shamrocks had two goals in the first period, but the Bruins ended the period with one goal. A scoreless second and another goal from each team gave the Shamrocks their second 3-2 victory of the weekend.
WATERTOWN SHAMROCKS:
The Shamrocks will enter this first-round playoff matchup after being swept by the Aberdeen Wings.
On Friday, the Shamrocks’ Owen Chartier scored a short-handed goal in the first period to start the game. Owen Fask then had a goal at the beginning of the second period, but after that, the Wings took over. Two goals to finish the second and a goal in the third gave them a 2-3 win. On Saturday, Watertown scored a goal in each period. Joe Rice to start, Brody Josselyn in the second, and Owen Chartier in the third. But Aberdeens two first-period goals held their 3-4 win.
AUSTIN BRUINS
The Bruins will enter this first-round playoff matchup after two wins, one over the Minnesota Mallards and one over the St. Cloud Norsemen.
On Friday, both teams were scoreless in the first period. In the second, Austin’s Michael Colemen scored three straight goals for a hat-trick. One final Bruins’ goal and one Minnesota goal made the final score 4-1. On Saturday, the Bruins shut out the Norsemen. St. Cloud only had 24 total shots, with goaltender Jack Solomon saving all 24. Three first period goals, one second period goal, and two third period goals gave Austin the 6-0 win.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
SHAMROCKS:
- Owen Chartier had a goal on both Friday and Saturday night and had 41 total points this regular season.
- Joe Rice had a goal and an assist on Saturday night for a season total of 53 points.
- Both Noah Segott and Jordan Gudridge had two assists last weekend.
BRUINS:
- Michael Coleman had a hat-trick on Friday night, and an assist on Saturday night, for a regular-season total of 53 points.
- Nathan Williams had five assists on the weekend and a total of 64 regular-season points.
- EJ Paddington had three goals and an assist on the weekend and totalled 72 regular-season points.
By Lily Schutzehofer
Photo by Sarah Cooper