The Utah Outliers begin to prepare for the last month of regular season play. The team currently holds a record of 32-4-3 which has the team in first place in the Mountain division and second place overall in the USPHL. Utah is currently on a five game winning streak and has picked up points in 11 of its last 13 games since returning from the Christmas break.
With the month of February beginning, the Outliers enter the final stretch of the regular season with only ten games remaining and eight of those games will be played on home ice at the Acord Ice Center. Points are at a premium at this time of the season and the Outliers want to make sure they are on the winning end of these critical games.
Much of the team's success this season can be attributed to the players focus on playing hard and sticking to an identity that best serves the group. The depth of the roster has allowed for different players on different nights to be the driving force behind the club's success. With an efficient offense, a strong defense and solid goaltending, the team has proven to be a tough matchup for all of their opponents across the USPHL.
Head Coach Paul Taylor had this to say about his team, "I really like the effort this group of players puts forth to improve their game every day. Our coaching staff of Eric Verdi, Jared Pike, and myself ask a lot out of our players on a daily basis and they continue to impress us with their ability to handle the challenges we throw at them. I am looking forward to our last month of the season and I believe we can still take another step in our game as we move towards playoffs. We set a goal for ourselves at the beginning of training camp and we will continue to work hard towards making that goal become a reality."
Forward Trent Gephart sees a team that is on a mission. "I feel really confident about our team and the way we have performed this season. When we are playing at our best we have a swagger about us that runs throughout the lineup. We are a hungry team that wins by committee and that is what makes us successful. Every guy has a role on this team and we are all determined to do the job expected of us each night."
Defenseman Matthew Koepke feels a big part of the team's success revolves around the team's mindset. "We work hard in the gym and in practice each day and we continue to refine the details of our game. If we continue to keep a strong focus and do the things that make us 'Outliers,' we will continue to be successful. I like the direction of our team right now and we want to keep the momentum rolling as we head into this last month of the season."
With just a month remaining before playoffs, the Outliers are proving to be a driven group of players that plan to keep their season moving in a positive direction and work towards a long playoff run. This should be an exciting last month of regular season play for the team and its fans!