Contact Information
501 2nd Ave NE
PO Box 451 (MAIL)
Austin, MN | 55912
P: (507) 434-4978
Website – austinbruins.com
Tryout Information
Tryout information for all teams will be announced in the spring of 2024
HISTORY
HOCKEY OPERATIONS
COACHES
STEVE HOWARD – PRESIDENT OF HOCKEY OPERATIONS/HEAD COACH
Steve Howard is entering his seventh season at the helm of the Bruins in 2023-24. He became the third head coach in Bruins history on May 1st, 2017, after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant coach for the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL.
In the six seasons behind the bench in Austin, Howard has led the Bruins to a 189-124-18-27 record. While behind the bench during the 2022-23 season, Howard helped lead the Bruins to their first Central Division Title since 2015 and reached the Robertson Cup Final. In 2017-18, Howard was named the Central Division Coach of the Year by the NAHL, becoming the first head coach in Bruins history to achieve the honor.
Howard was recognized as the NA3HL Coach of the Year after leading the Flint Junior Generals to the circuit’s Eastern Division championship and USA Hockey’s Tier III National Junior Tournament in 2014. Over two seasons with the Junior Generals, Howard owned a regular-season record of 69-21-4.
Howard played professionally in the ECHL, SPHL, and other domestic circuits, as well as in Europe and Asia, from 2001 through 2008. His first experience coaching came as a player/assistant with the SPHL’s Columbus (GA) Cottonmouths in 2006/07. After retirement as a player, his career in coaching and skill development, including work with the Minnesota Advancement Program (MAP) and Michigan’s STRIDA Hockey.
ALEX DRULIA – ASSISTANT COACH
Alex is entering his first season with the Bruins Coaching Staff after spending the 2022-23 season as a Regional Scout for Head Coach Steve Howard and the Bruins. In addition to scouting, Alex served as the Head Coach for the Maine Moose 18U program. Prior to that, Drulia was the Head Coach of the Twin City Thunder USPHL Premier and Assistant Coach of Twin City’s NCDC Programs.
A native of Fort Erie, ONT, CAN, Drulia has been involved with the sport of Hockey since his early years. Drulia played Juniors for the in NA3HL as a member of the Battle Creek Jr. Revolution and in the MNJHL with the Dells Ducks.
AL ROONEY – ASSISTANT COACH
NICK LEHR – GOALTENDING COACH
Nick Lehr enters his third season as Goaltending Coach for the Bruins during the 2023-24 Season. Lehr also served as the Goalie Director with the Beijing Junior Kings in Beijing, China, as part of the Los Angeles Kings Goalie Development Program from 2019 to 2021. Lehr has previously worked with Minnesota Advancement Program (MAP) and MEGA Goaltending. Lehr has been associated with the Blaine-based goaltending program since the beginning of his playing career and has been coaching on and off since high school.
Before joining the Bruins in a coaching capacity, Lehr played four seasons at the University of Minnesota, where he graduated in 2018 with a degree in Business and Marketing Education. The Roseville, MN, native is the most decorated goaltender in Austin Bruins history, having played three years in a Bruins uniform between 2011 and 2014. He currently holds team records as a Goalie in appearances, minutes, fewest goals allowed, and wins in a season. He was also named to the NAHL All-Central team for his efforts during the 2013-14 campaign.
SCOUTING DEPARTMENT
Aaron Venasky begins his seventh season with the Bruins in 2023-24 after four successful seasons in which he helped Austin make the NAHL Central Division playoffs. Before coming to Austin, Venasky coached at Lakeville South High School, where the Cougars were Section 1AA Champions and State Semi-Finalists in 2016 as well as Section Finalists in 2017. Venasky also served as Head Scout/Midwest Regional Scout with the Bismarck Bobcats for six seasons before coaching at Lakeville South.
Venasky is a native of Edmonton, Alberta, and grew up playing in Apple Valley, Minnesota. He competed for three seasons in the junior ranks for the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL and the Billings Bulls of the former AWHL. After juniors, Venasky took his career to the collegiate level, where he helped the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons win three WIAC Championships. Venasky graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis on Finance.
AUGUST AIKEN – SCOUT
JUSTIN FISHER – SCOUT
JON JEPSON – SCOUT
TOM MAROSTE – SCOUT
SCOTTY MIKESCH – SCOUT
GENE ZYLA – SCOUT
FRONT OFFICE & GAME NIGHT STAFF
OWNERSHIP GROUP
BRIAN RADUENZ – OWNER
Brian Raduenz is the Chief Executive Officer of a global Defense company, AEVEX Aerospace based out of Solana Beach, California. A native of Eveleth, Minnesota, he is a graduate and hockey alumnus of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after a 20-year Air Force career before building and leading a successful Aerospace and Defense corporation.
Raduenz played hockey for Eveleth High School and then went on to play Division I college hockey for the United States Air Force Academy. He would receive his Bachelor’s Degree in 1988 from the Air Force Academy and would then go on to obtain his Master’s Degree in 1992 from the Air Force Insitute of Technology in Dayton, Ohio.
Brian Raduenz and his wife, Theresa, started the Iron Ranger Foundation in 2019, which awards scholarships to high school students who have lost a parent to “death (of one/both parents), estrangement, incarceration, terminal illness, or termination of parental rights.” The Raduenz family also donated $250,000 in February 2021 to the Rock Ridge Rising campaign, which raised money for new school and athletic facilities for the newly formed Rock Ridge School District in Eveleth.
FRONT OFFICE
PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS – BRIAN SCHULZ
Brian Schulz returns to the role of President of Business Operations for both the Bruins and Rochester Grizzlies, a position he held before the COVID-19 Pandemic. Most fans will recognize Schulz as the Public Address Voice for the Austin Bruins, a role he has also returned to for the 2023-24 Season. Schulz has spent twelve years with Rochester Motor Cars and in the role of Director of Human Resources. Rochester Motor Cars is the largest auto dealer in Southern Minnesota. Besides the Bruins, his connections to the Austin hockey community come as both a previous member of the Austin Youth Hockey Board and as a hockey parent. Additionally, Schulz was involved with the St. Paul Pioneers football team for 10 years, one of the most successful semi-pro teams in the country. Schulz won the 2003 American Football Association General Manager of the Year and assisted in marketing, game day operations, player recruitment, and announcing for the team. Brian resides in Austin with his wife, Amanda.
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS/MEDIA RELATIONS – JARRED BECKER
GAME NIGHT & SUPPORT STAFF
MASCOT – BRUISER THE BEAR
