Outiers look to rebound against Coyotes

by Paul Taylor

The Utah Outliers are hitting the road to take on the Casper Coyotes for the two teams’ last meeting of the regular season. The Outliers are coming off of very unfamiliar territory, having just been swept by the Idaho Icecats. The previous weekend’s games mark the second time all year that Utah has lost a series. The speed bump is hopefully a minor setback, and one not to be repeated. As the heated chase for 1st place in the Mountain Division continues on, every point is extremely valuable. Casper will be no easy out for Utah, as the Coyotes are coming off of a three game sweep of the Cheyenne Stampede, as well as wins against both the Colorado Eagles and Ogden Mustangs. As it stands, The Mustangs currently occupy 1st place with a record of 34-10-1. The Outliers are sitting in 2nd place at 32-9-1, and the Eagles are in a close 3rd at 28-8-6. 


Key things to watch out for are the three new additions that the Outliers made at the trade deadline. The team would like to welcome forwards Erik Safstrom and Mattias Wikstrom, as well as goaltender Cedric Lesieur. The two Swedish forwards join Utah from the Western Division team the West Sound Warriors. Both players have had great success thus far this year with impressive stat lines. Safstrom currently sits at 22 goals and 37 assists in 31 games played, while Wikstrom has collected 13 goals and 38 assists in 35 games played. Lesieur impressed the Outliers while representing the CPJHL All Star Team at the WSHL Showcase, and joins the team from the Grey Highlands Hawks. The Canadian net minder adds another solid goalie to a team that has allowed the second fewest goals in the WSHL this year.


All three games will take place at the Casper Ice Arena in Casper, Wyoming, with Friday and Saturday puck drop scheduled for 7:30 PM, and Sunday at 2:45 PM.