Outliers Drop First Game in Mountain Division Finals

Utah hockey team falls 5-3 to Grand Junction River Hawks in series opener

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:51pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, forest green, and white, conveying the fractured nature of the Outliers' loss.The Outliers' inability to gain control of the neutral zone led to a frustrating loss in the series opener against the River Hawks.Park City Today

The Utah Outliers hockey club lost the first game of the Mountain Division Finals 5-3 to the Grand Junction River Hawks on Friday night. The River Hawks jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, and while the Outliers fought back to make it 4-3 late, they couldn't complete the comeback.

Why it matters

This is a crucial playoff series for the Outliers, who are looking to advance to the next round. The team's slow start and struggles in the neutral zone proved costly in the opener, raising questions about their ability to bounce back in the series.

The details

The River Hawks scored one goal in the first period and two more in the second to take a commanding 3-0 lead. Utah forward Erick Bachtle got the Outliers on the board, but Grand Junction extended the lead to 4-1 before Utah mounted a late rally. Outliers forwards Tyler Gudjonson and Bachtle scored in the final five minutes to make it 4-3, but the team couldn't find the equalizer. Grand Junction outshot Utah 39-24 in the game.

  • The game was played on Friday, April 11, 2026.
  • Game two is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2026.
  • Game three will be played on Monday, April 14, 2026 at 7:05 p.m. in Park City, Utah.
  • If necessary, game four is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15, 2026.
  • A potential game five is set for noon on Friday, April 18, 2026.

The players

Erick Bachtle

A forward for the Utah Outliers who scored two goals in the loss.

Tyler Gudjonson

A forward for the Utah Outliers who scored one goal in the loss.

Richard Bohan

The head coach of the Utah Outliers, who said the team got off to a slow start and struggled in the neutral zone.

Grand Junction River Hawks

The opposing team that won the first game of the series 5-3.

Utah Outliers

The hockey team that lost the first game of the Mountain Division Finals series.

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What they’re saying

“They got a few good looks in the second and took advantage and got off to a 3-0 lead. We were chasing ever since. We had some fight back to us. We fought back from 4-1 to 4-3. But at the end of the day, it was just too little too late.”

— Richard Bohan, Utah Outliers Head Coach

“I just thought we got off to too slow of a start. We didn't really manage the neutral zone that well, giving up too much speed and too many shots in the first period.”

— Richard Bohan, Utah Outliers Head Coach

What’s next

Game two in the series is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2026 in Grand Junction, Colorado. The series will then shift to Park City, Utah for game three on Monday, April 14 at 7:05 p.m.

The takeaway

The Outliers' slow start and struggles in the neutral zone proved costly in the series opener, putting them in an early hole. If they hope to advance, the team will need to make adjustments and come out stronger in game two to even the series before returning home.