Outliers to start 2018 in Cheyenne

Heading towards the end of 2017, the Utah Outliers were rolling in the WSHL, compiling a 20-5 record before playing in the Las Vegas Showcase. After a tough loss to the Valencia Flyers in game one at the Showcase, Utah responded strong and took the next two games 6-3 (over the Long Beach Bombers) and 3-0 (over the Oklahoma City Blazers). The guys earned themselves a nice long beak for Christmas, and now coming into the new year, the Outliers are ready to duplicate the success from the first half of the season.

Up first in 2018 is the Cheyenne Stampede. The Mountain Division Stampede have had a less than ideal first half of the season, holding a tough record of 2 wins and 33 losses. They are currently on a 28 game losing streak, and were just swept this past weekend by the Ogden Mustangs by a combined score of 36-2. To the credit of Cheyenne, they have a never die attitude and continue to battle in each and every game. 

Leading the way for the Stampede this season are Logan Syrup with 10 goals and 5 assists, George Leech with 5 goals and 7 assists, and Evgenii Bastrakov with 6 goals and 6 assists. Goaltender Devin Bain has earned both wins for Cheyenne this season.

For the Outliers, Zack Hoffman still leads the charge offensively leading the team in both assists (30) and points (42). Kane Toriumi leads the squad in goals with 17. Seven different Outliers have scored double digits in goals, and the scoring by committee still holds true with 15 players in double digits for points. Between the pipes, Dawson Rodin, Otto Saxin, and Trenton Wendt all still have winning records and are amongst the top of the league in most goaltending stat categories.

The games this weekend will be the first of six these two teams will play this season, with Cheyenne coming to Utah the first weekend in February. They should be a good test to see how the Outliers took care of themselves during the break and where the Outliers are at coming into the second part of the season. The Outliers are in control of their own destiny, and if they can have the same type of success they experienced in the first half of the season, can find themselves in first place in the Mountain Division.

Games this weekend will take place at the Cheyenne Ice and Events Center 7:35 PM Friday, 7:35 PM Saturday, and 1:00 PM on Sunday.

Go Outliers!