Skip to content

Pilots eliminated by Outlaws

5414abbotsfordpilots2
Pilots forward Cole Methorst attacks the Outlaws defence during game four in Abbotsford on Friday.

The Abbotsford Pilots playoff run came to a crashing thud on Friday.

In a must-win game, the Pilots came up short, losing 5-4 to their arch rival the Mission City Outlaws, and were swept in four straight in the second round Pacific Junior Hockey League season.

Just like three of the other four games, the Pilots lost by one goal, and head coach Jim Cowden said the score was indicative of the Pilots seemingly coming up short all series long.

“We just never got any breaks,” he said. “We should have won game one, game three and tonight but we just didn’t get any breaks.”

Mission got started early, as the Outlaws got on the board just 26 seconds into the game. They made it 2-0 about two minutes later. Abbotsford’s Mateo Toledo then made it a one-goal game, but the Outlaws replied moments later to make it 3-1. Alexander Methorst got the Pilots back to within one, adding a late goal to make it 3-2 after the first.

The Outlaws were first again to strike in the second, but Pilots forward Hayden Guilderson added another late goal to make it 4-3 after two.

Toledo scored his second of the game, just 59 seconds into the third period, to tie the game again, but it was Mission’s Ryan Sharma who sealed the deal with the game-winning goal at 3:59. The Outlaws hung on the rest of the way for the 5-4 win.

Cowden said he didn’t want to use injuries as an excuse, but noted that several players were missing in game four: key defenceman Justin Peaker and Erik Olson, along with forwards Dryden Michaud, Sean Olson, Jackson Waniek and Brady Morton. He also noted that starting goalie Jacob Crawford had still not fully recovered after being hurt in game two from a Mission forward hitting him.

Guilderson led the way in postseason scoring for the Pilots with 12 points in 10 games. Defender Devon Becker also had a productive postseason with 10 points in 10 games. Cole Methorst had a team-high five goals for Abbotsford.

The game marked the end of the junior career for Pilots captain Joel Balzer and forward Cole Methorst. Both players spent the last three seasons wearing Pilots colours.

With the win, the Outlaws move on to the PJHL championship, which is expected to kick off this weekend.



Ben Lypka

About the Author: Ben Lypka

I joined the Abbotsford News in 2015.
Read more