PUURUNEN TWINS TO PLAY PRO HOCKEY

The Utah Outliers are pleased to announce that twin brothers Alexander and Filip Puurunen have signed a professional contract with Solleftea HK in the Swedish Division 1 League. Solleftea HK competes in the Norra Forts division. Both Alex and Filip had tremendous seasons for the Outliers in their first year of junior hockey, and expectations are very high for them going forward.

The twins spent a majority of the season playing together as they fed off each other’s twin intuition. Both Alex and Filip showed a lot of offensive flare at different parts of the season and scored some big goals for the team.

The two brothers also paired very well together on ‘special teams’ for the Outliers as they played a vital role on both the power play and penalty kill. Alex finished the year with 22 goals and 20 assists, good for fifth on team in points. Filip also had a solid year, having put up 8 goals and 20 assists.

Assistant Coach Austin Balko said this upon hearing the news, “I believe Alex and Filip will do very well at the next level. Both have a combination of speed and size. They have a very good skill set and are extremely good individuals off the ice. The biggest benefit is that being twins, they have a chemistry on the ice that is hard to match.”

Head Coach Paul Taylor also thought very highly of the Puurunen duo. “Filip and Alex were outstanding players for our team last season. The work ethic and dedication they both brought to the rink on a daily basis was excellent. These two players were constant professionals and I really enjoyed coaching them. I expect them both to have strong seasons with Sollefta HK.”

Of his time in Utah, Alex said, “It was a great experience playing for the Outliers. The program was very professional, from the staff to training facilities. It felt like a real training program that was set up to help players like me succeed.”

Filip also stated, “The coaches did a great job of really helping me understand the details of the game and helped me learn what it takes to become a better and more consistent hockey player. I think they have really helped prepare me for my next hockey season at the Pro level.”

The entire Outliers organization wishes both Alex and Filip all the best this upcoming season, and in all their future hockey endeavors. We thank them for all of their hard work this past year, and know they will go on to do great things both on and off the ice!