The Pacific Junior Hockey League is officially back and the Mission City Outlaws have returned to the rink.
Mission closed off the exhibition schedule on Saturday with a 5-2 win over the Aldergrove Kodiaks.
The August exhibition schedule for the club included an 8-1 loss to the Port Moody Panthers on Aug. 25, a 5-4 overtime win over the Panthers on Aug. 19, a 5-4 win over the Abbotsford Pilots on Aug. 18 and a 4-1 loss to the Pilots on Aug. 17.
The Outlaws competed in the PJHL’s season opener against the Langley Trappers in Langley on Wednesday, but results were not available at press time.
Local fans will have a slight delay for the home opener, as Saturday’s game against the Abbotsford Pilots has been re-scheduled to allow the entire B.C. hockey community the chance to mourn the death of PJHL goalie and high-level referee Robert Nawrot.
The former Pilots and Surrey Knights netminder died on Aug. 28.
It hasn’t yet been determined when that game will be made up, but the Outlaws next return to action on Sept. 12, when they take on the Kodiaks in Aldergrove.
Mission makes its home debut on Sept. 15, when the Richmond Sockeyes come to the Mission Leisure Centre.
This year’s Outlaws team boasts a wealth of experience, and head coach Brad Veitch said the team should be fun to watch.
“Our emphasis this year is going to be about speed, playing a physical game, being disciplined and moving the puck,” he told the Outlaws official blog.
He said returning players will let some of the rookie talent ease more smoothly into their roles.
“The leadership core we have coming back allows us to put newer guys into roles they should succeed in,” he said. “We’re not going to have rookies have to start in roles that they have to produce in like last year. We can bring them on a little slower and help them develop.”
Some of the highly touted rookie talent includes Mission products Tristan Takats and Arman Grewal, along with Langley native Travis Trottier.
Veitch said defender Michael Nemeth will also be relied on for leadership and he considers him one of the best defencemen in the PJHL. Offensively it will be Kyle Mooney, Max Corazza and Tristyn Olson who will make up a top scoring line. Veitch added that he also expects improvement from forwards Justin Hargrave and Conner Jollymore.
The Outlaws are looking to return to the playoffs after missing the postseason last year. Mission posted a record of 17-26-1 last year, and under the new playoff format will have to finish in the top eight to make the postseason. Previous years had seen the top four in each division qualify. This year also marks the debut of the White Rock Whalers, who will play in the Tom Shaw conference.
For more on the team, visit missioncityoutlaws.com.