The early season struggles continued for the Mission City Outlaws over the weekend, with the club dropping games on Friday and Saturday.
Mission traveled to Abbotsford on Friday to battle the Pilots, and a third period collapse led to the team’s eventual 6-4 loss
The Outlaws fell behind 2-0 after 20 minutes, but then battled back with three goals in the second period to head into the final frame tied at three. Noah Wiebe, Conner Jollymore on the power play and Liam Robinson tallied for Mission in the second.
Abbotsford then outscored the Outlaws 3-1 in the third, with Justin Hargrave’s shorthanded goal tying the game up at four, but the Pilots scored a pair of goals late in the third for the win.
Wiebe had a two-point night, and Outlaws goalie Matthew Trulsen made 36 saves in the loss.
The Outlaws then hosted the Grandview Steelers on Saturday at the Mission Leisure Centre, and were blanked 7-0.
The Steelers put the game away in the second period, with four goals to cruise to the win.
Mission was outshot 50-18 in the loss, and allowed a pair of power play goals. Outlaws goalie Isaac Ellis, making his second career Pacific Junior Hockey League start, had a busy night and stopped 43 shots.
The pair of losses moves the Outlaws record to 2-3-2, and they sit in fourth place in the PJHL’s Harold Brittain conference and ninth overall in the league.
Mission now has an opportunity to make up some ground, as the club’s next four games all take place at home. Mission hosts the North Vancouver Wolf Pack today (Friday) at 7 p.m., and then welcome the Delta Ice Hawks to the MLC on Saturday at 6:45 p.m.
The Outlaws have a rare Tuesday night game on Oct. 9, as the Port Moody Panthers come to town for a 7 p.m. game, and then the Langley Trappers come to MLC on Oct. 13 at 6:45 p.m.
For more on the team, visit missioncityoutlaws.com.
