The Abbotsford Pilots got back on track last weekend, with back-to-back wins on Friday and Saturday.
Abbotsford hosted their arch-rivals from Mission on Friday for the first time this season, and the bad blood continued between the two clubs with 152 penalty minutes assessed in total.
Mission got on the board first, when Justin Hargrave tallied at 13:55, but the Pilots tied it up in the second thanks to Alexander Methorst’s goal.
The third period was all Abbotsford, as the Pilots got power play goals from Cameron Obcena and Jeremy Zomar to earn the 3-1 win.
Obcena was acquired by the Pilots from the Port Moody Panthers on Sept. 15 in exchange for forward Kevin Allen.
Pilots goalie Liam Marshall was strong between the pipes, making 28 saves. Obcena, named the game’s second star after Marshall, had a three-point night.
Abbotsford outshot the Outlaws 50-29, and managed to kill all eight times they were shorthanded.
Tempers boiled over in the third period, with Abbotsford’s Baylee Wright and Tyler Wickman, along with Mission’s Haydn Downing, all receiving game misconducts.
Outlaws player Liam Robinson was also assessed a match penalty at 18:52 of the third period, and he is likely facing a suspension.
The Pilots then travelled to Port Moody to take on the Panthers on Saturday, and dominated from start to finish to pick up a 5-0 win.
Thomas Pickering connected with a power play goal in the first period, and Obcena continued his solid weekend with a goal in the second. Methorst, Wright and Tyler Falk added goals in the third to take the win.
Pilots goalie Gunnar Nielsen made 23 saves for the first shutout of his Pacific Junior Hockey League career, and his third win this season.
Wright, Methorst and Obcena all recorded multi-point games for Abbotsford, who outshot the Panthers 40-23.
The pair of wins vault the Pilots into first place in the Harold Brittain conference, and they now sport a record of four wins, one loss and one overtime loss.
Abbotsford returns to action on Friday, when they host the Aldergrove Kodiaks at the MSA Arena. Faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
The Pilots then head to Mission to battle the Outlaws on Saturday. That game gets underway at 6:45 p.m.
For more on the team, visit abbotsfordpilots.com.