On Friday night at the Black Rock Mountain Event Center, the Park City Outliers, a junior hockey team focused on sending players to college hockey or wherever their next steps may be, put on a high-scoring show with the visiting Ventura Vikings for hundreds of excited fans.  The Outliers scored their first three goals of the game in the first period and pitched a shutout against the Vikings. The second period saw Ventura’s opening goal and, later, three more within about a minute for a brief lead. Park City then scored three goals of their own in a little over a minute to close the second period. The Outliers tacked on two early third-period goals to all but ice the game, and a final-seconds goal for good measure.  Park City’s Erick Bachtle led the charge on Friday with four goals and an assist. Before the game, Outliers General Manager Kevin McCloskey pegged Bachtle as a star for fans to keep an eye out for this season.  Outliers captain Erich Bachtle led the team with four goals and an assist on Friday. Credit: David Jackson/Park Record “It felt amazing,” Bachtle said. “I think we just need to stick together as a team and play a full 60 minutes. We can’t give up four goals there.” Bachtle and McCloskey know the potential of this year’s team, which is chasing the National Collegiate Development Conference title and packed crowds.  “We come to the rink every day and have these great facilities, and it just makes it 100 times easier to come and enjoy the game of hockey,” Bachtle said. “The energy in this building pumps us up. It keeps us going through the whole game.” While Friday’s game wasn’t a packed crowd, those in attendance were lively, with some dancing between periods. It seemed like the perfect place to introduce kids to live hockey, with many running around the stadium carefree and welcoming Outliers players on and off the ice. Some kids even got to take home sticks from the home team.  Park City wowed hundreds of fans at the Black Rock Mountain Event Center. Credit: David Jackson/Park Record “How could you not be excited?” McCloskey said. “It’s amazing, the facility. … We have some really good, young players, and we think we’ll win a lot of games this year.” All Park City has done so far this season is win, with Friday’s victory moving the team to 3-0. The Outliers next home game is against the Rock Springs Miners at 7:05 p.m. this Friday. Tickets for the Rock Springs game are still available and range from $12-$30.  “It’s a really affordable ticket, so we think it’s a great night out,” McCloskey said. “It’s a different experience than the NHL. … You can come and have dinner at the restaurant ahead of time and walk downstairs and into the rink.” A good portion of the crowd on Friday was the Outliers players’ host or billet families. The players are from out of town and their families don’t make it to every game. Host Patty Gomes said she’s been hosting players for the past two seasons and goes to every home game. She’s been shocked by the intensity of the games and the passion of the home crowds.  “I have Andy Brown, No. 17 on defense, in my home this year, and it’s so much fun,” Gomes said. “He’s a very outgoing and self-sufficient young man. … I feel like the checking is more aggressive than the NHL, but the exciting part is when they score and win, the enthusiasm of the whole crowd is great.” For further information about the Outliers or to buy tickets, see their website: pcoutliers.com/home. The Outliers hope to win their league and pack their home stands this season. Credit: David Jackson/Park Record The post Park City Outliers win home opener Friday night appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less