Outliers Finish Regular Season Play

The Outliers wrapped up their regular season with a home-and-home series against their in-state rival, the Ogden Mustangs. Utah lost on Friday by a score of 4-3 and defeated the Mustangs on Saturday 5-0. 

Ogden Mustangs 4, Utah Outliers 3 (Mar 21st, 2025)

Looking to continue his winning ways, goaltender Matthew MacArthur was named the starter on Friday night. MacArthur entered this game with a 6-0 record for Utah. 

This was a unique game for the Outliers, as they wore purple jerseys to honor 'Cancer Awareness Night' and partnered with a local foundation called 'Ink Against Cancer.' The Acord Ice Center was packed with enthusiastic fans coming to watch the game and support a fantastic cause. 

Ogden got a fast start in this game, scoring two goals in the first period to take an early lead. Utah drove a lot of the offensive play in the opening frame but failed to convert on their chances. The period would close with the Outliers trailing 2-0 and outshooting the Mustangs 12-9. 

The Outliers started the second period on the power play and quickly found the back of the net when Garrett Joss cut Ogden's lead in half. While playing with the man advantage, Jentzen Kaebel cycled to the top of the zone and dished a pass to Danil Chuparnov, who slid the puck back to Joss. Joss circled from the half wall to the top of the right circle and beat the Ogden goaltender cleanly for his 35th goal of the season. 

Ogden answered with another goal to make it 3-1, but Utah again responded by connecting on another power play goal to draw within one. Defenseman Edvin Edlund ripped off a slapshot from the right circle with 2:14 remaining in the period. Utah would go into the intermission trailing 3-2, but they drastically outshot the Mustangs 13-2 in the second period but still trailed by a score of 3-2. 

The Outliers came out flying in the third period and scored less than two minutes into the final frame. Forward Justin Obrochta and Branden Hasenberger found themselves on a 2-on-1 in Ogden’s end. Obrochta sauced a pass over to Hasenberger, who went in alone on the goaltender. Hasenberger danced around the goalie with a slick deke to score his 9th of the season. Obrochta and Nathan Nadeau picked up the assists on this goal. 

Unfortunately for the Outliers, the Mustangs scored the game-winning goal off a flukey bounce. The puck caromed off a Utah player and into their own net, and the Mustangs skated away with the 4-3 win. 

Utah Outliers 5, Ogden Mustangs 0 (Mar 22nd, 2025)

Entering Saturday’s game with a chip on their shoulder, the Outliers looked to split the weekend series with a win at the Ice sheet in Ogden. Utah looked to veteran goaltender Marcus Ouellet to be the team's backbone, and he did not disappoint as he played brilliantly on this night. 

Continuing their trend of dominating early in the period, the Outliers broke the ice with their first goal during the ten-minute mark of the first period. Nathan Huntington kept the puck in the zone on a clearing attempt, allowing Utah to begin their cycle game down low. Kaleb Pitman fired a long-distance shot from the top of the zone, which missed the net wide. After a scrum around the net for the loose puck, Garrett Joss spotted the biscuit sitting alone in front of the net and ripped his shot past the Mustangs goalie for his 36th of the season. Tevz Zibert and Kaleb Pitman picked up the assists on the play.

Utah kept their foot on the gas, scoring their second goal of the period less than four minutes later. The Outliers were offsides and had to leave the zone as the Ogden Mustangs attempted to set up behind their net. The Mustangs player stepped out from behind the net and attempted an ill-advised breakout pass. Makar Klochkov intercepted the breakout pass and stepped into his shot above the circle. The initial shot was blocked, but Klochkov dove 'Superman-style' on his stomach to guide the loose puck into the net for his 6th of the season.

The Outliers found themselves on the powerplay late in the first period. With under three minutes remaining, Kole Mears held the puck at the half wall in the offensive zone. Mears slid the puck back to Jentzen Kaebel, who found Garrett Joss wide-open for a one-timer that was rifled into the net. This was Joss's 37th goal of the season and his second on the night. Utah ended the first period leading 3-0 and holding the shot advantage by a 16-13 margin. 

Sixteen seconds into the second period, the Outliers scored again to extend their lead to 4-0. Edvin Edlund lofted the puck onto the goal before Kole Mears tipped it. The initial tipped shot was saved, but Mears tapped the puck over to Justin Obrochta, who had a wide-open net. Obrochta deposited an easy goal for his 15th of the season. Utah led by a score of 4-0 after two periods and once again carried much of the play. 

The Outliers 4-0 lead held for the majority of the game. The visitors scored one more time with just four seconds remaining to secure a great team victory. Nathan Huntington scored his 6th of the season when he took a harmless-looking shot from the point that found its way past the Mustangs netminder. Assists on the goal were awarded to  Connor Corcorcan and Branden Hasenberger. 

Marcus Ouellet was stellar in net for all sixty minutes. He made numerous big saves for his team and ended the evening perfectly by stopping all 30 shots he faced. 

The Outliers will prepare for playoffs as they take on the Ogden Mustangs in Round 1. The best-of-five series will begin on March 28th. Check the website for more details.