WATERTOWN SHAMROCKS (11-9-0-0) vs. AUSTIN BRUINS (15-6-2-1)
RIVERSIDE ARENA | NAHL REGULAR SEASON | GAME #23 AND #24 | DECEMBER 12 AND 13 , 2025
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 Shamrocks’ twenty-third and twenty-fourth regular-season games of the 2025-26 season. This is the third regular-season matchup between these two teams.
So far this season, the Shamrocks have gone 3-1 against the Bruins in their four 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.
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. 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.
WATERTOWN SHAMROCKS:
The Shamrocks will enter this division matchup after splitting a weekend series with the North Iowa Bulls at Mason City Arena.
On Friday, Zach Boren scored twice, and the Shamrocks had two empty net goals to give them the win. Goalie Mason Gudridge stopped 24/25 shots, and despite the Bulls’ pressure, the Shamrocks won 4-1. On Saturday, the first period was quiet, but the second period had five goals in total. The Shamrocks fell short 3-2, but in the third, Owen Chartier tied up the game. A late goal on the power play gave the Bulls a 4-3 victory.
The Shamrocks have won four of their last five, and currently sit in fourth in the Central Division.
AUSTIN BRUINS:
The Bruins will host the Shamrocks after playing a set of games against the Bismarck Bobcats. The Bruins split the series against the Bobcats in a close 3-2 win on Friday and a 5-4 loss on Saturday.
On Friday, Bruins’ goalie Jack Solomon had an impressive night, helping them secure the win. Gavin Hruza started the scoring in the first, then Matsvei Marshchanok and Siamion Marshchanok scored on the power play through periods two and three, contributing to their 3-2 victory. On Saturday, despite three of the four goals coming on special teams, Austin fell short to Bismarck. The Marshchanok brothers had a goal each in this game, along with EJ Paddington and JJ Franceschetti, but it wasn’t enough. Despite a third-period lead, they were unable to overcome Bismarck’s two goals late.
The Bruins’ record is 15-6-2-1, and they are tied with the Bismarck Bobcats for first place in the Central Division.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
SHAMROCKS:
- Zach Boren currently leads the team with 14 goals and 27 points, and is second with 13 assists. He scored two goals on Friday.
- Erick Comstock currently leads the team in assists with 19, gaining two this past Saturday.
- Owen Chartier has 16 points on the season, with an assist on Friday and a goal on Saturday night.
BRUINS:
- Siamion Marshchanok leads the team with 14 goals and 26 assists for 40 points on the season. On Friday, he had a goal and an assist, and on Saturday, he had a goal and two assists.
- Matsvei Marshchanok has 32 points on the season, with a goal and an assist on Friday, and a goal on Saturday.
- Gavin Hruza has 19 points on the season, scoring on Friday, and two assists on Saturday.
By Lily Schutzehofer
Photo by Sarah Cooper