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Outlaws bounce back after slow start

Mission earns wins over Surrey, Richmond to even record
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Mission’s Justin Bowerman chases down the puck during PJHL action in Surrey on Sept. 14. Mission’s Justin Bowerman chases down the puck during PJHL action in Surrey on Sept. 14.

After dropping their first two games of Pacific Junior Hockey League regular-season action, the Mission City Outlaws are heating up.

The Outlaws won games in Surrey on Thursday and on home ice on Saturday to bounce back to .500 hockey early into the season.

Thursday’s game against the Surrey Knights saw Mission get goals from Conner Jollymore in the first and Joshua Martin in the second to go up 2-0 after two.

The Knights got on the board early in the third, but Mission sealed the win with goals from Justin Bowerman and Conner Jollymore in the third.

The Outlaws outshot Surrey 50-27, and goalie Keaton Dyck made 26 saves for his first win of the season.

Mission assistant coach Nick Thompson said it was a big win for his team’s confidence.

“It was huge getting the first win of the year to help grow their confidence,” he said. “It wasn’t easy facing the two finalists in our first two games, but our young guys are showing development from that.”

Saturday’s home game against the Richmond Sockeyes saw the Outlaws again jump out to an early lead, with Jollymore and Kyle Mooney putting Mission up 2-0 after one.

Richmond answered back early in the second, but the Outlaws replied with Mooney notching his second and Chase Heslop scoring the fourth goal.

The teams traded goals in the third, with Richmond scoring twice, but the Outlaws got some insurance when Liam Robinson scored the Outlaws’ fifth goal. Mission took the game 5-3.

Matthew Trulsen was solid in between the pipes for Mission, making 40 saves for his first win of the season.

Mooney, named the first star of the game, said it was a good turnaround from last week’s poor start.

“Last week after the game we all said that this is a new season, and a game like that you can’t dwell on,” he said. “We went out and won in Surrey, then came back and showed our fans how we can really play. That was a good opponent – they are already guaranteed to go to the Cyclone – and I think we showed we are a good team too.”

The Outlaws travel to Abbotsford to take on the Pilots tonight (Friday) at 7:30 p.m., and then host the Knights on Saturday at 6:45 p.m.



Ben Lypka

About the Author: Ben Lypka

I joined the Abbotsford News in 2015.
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