The Mission City Outlaws started off 2019 in a big way, crushing the Surrey Knights 12-1 on Friday.
The game was part of the Pacific Junior Hockey League’s Winter Classic weekend, which saw games between all 12 teams over three days at Richmond’s Minoru Arena.
Mission’s Liam Warren and Andrew Fishwick put the Outlaws up 2-0 after 20 minutes, and the team exploded for seven goals in the second period to put a stranglehold on the game.
Tristan Takats (two), Justin Hargrave, Zachary Valana and Nicholas Thomson all scored in the second, with Warren also completing the hat trick.
Takats scored his third of the game in the third period, with Fishwick and Hargrave also scoring.
Surrey added a late goal to spoil the shutout bid of Outlaws goalie Andrew Edgecombe, who made 26 saves for his first career PJHL win.
Takats recorded five points in the win, with Griffin Abbott adding four assists. Both Fishwick and Warren also collected four points.
The 12 goals scored is Mission’s most impressive offensive output in team history.
The Outlaws then fell 4-1 to the Grandview Steelers on Saturday.
After falling behind 1-0 after 20 minutes, Mission’s Michael Nemeth scored on a power play to tie the game, but Grandview scored three unanswered goals over the last two periods to earn the win.
Isaac Elias made 31 saves in a losing cause for the Outlaws.
Mission’s record now sits at 9-23-3, good for fifth place in the Harold Brittain conference and 11th overall in the league.
The Outlaws next travel to Port Moody to take on the Panthers on Saturday.
The next home game for the club occurs on Jan. 19, when the Langley Trappers come to the Mission Leisure Centre. That game kicks off at 6:45 p.m.
Overtime:
In other Outlaws news, team captain Michael Nemeth has been named to the PJHL all-star game.
Nemeth, who has eight points this season, will play on the Brittain conference team along with players from Port Moody, Abbotsford, Ridge Meadows, Surrey, Aldergrove and Langley.
That game occurs on Monday in Maple Ridge. Faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
The Outlaws also made a transaction on Jan. 7, moving defenceman Jayden Castle to the Kamloops Storm in exchange for future considerations.
For more on the team, visit missioncityoutlaws.com.
