Zinnen Zeroes Warbirds in First Shutout

CASPER, WY — Netminder Will Zinnen eyed the clock in Casper on Saturday night, considering the validity of his potential accolade. When his chance for a highlight arrived, he swept the Warbirds’ shot aside and said he enjoyed the moment. “25 seconds left, they have a little mini breakaway,” he began. “It felt good to make that save. You know if I don’t make a big save it’s sort of a soft shutout.”

Head coach Richard Bohan disagreed. Nodding, the headman smiled and recapped, “[Zinnen] had to make several Grade A, big time saves that were huge for us and kept us in the game.”

His Park City Outliers (10-4-0-0) kept “in the game” and controlled it by the end of the third period with the 3-0 shutout of the Casper Warbirds (4-8-2-0) on Halloween. 

The Saturday victory finished with 51 registered saves for Zinnen — his personal best — on the way to his first NCDC scoreless performance.

The Wisconsin-native credited his teammates for the milestone. He said, “My team did a great job… Shutouts are a team stat.”

Bohan agreed with his goalie on that point. “They did a pretty good job suffocating the middle of the ice, keeping most things out to the exterior.”

After the contest, Zinnen guessed that he marked better than the half-century mark in stops. Right, again, he reacted to the 51 total by laughing. “That’s a big number. It’s more than 50.”

Bohan considered the weekend win a statement for his goaltender. “I think today was just kind of him stamping himself at this level.”

“He’s not a kid who’s easily distracted, and he can lock in.”

Zinnen found a way to distract away from his own personal stats after the game. Watching his team accomplish all of its damage in the third period, the 19-year-old manned the crease while forwards Grant Barksdale, Alex Small, and Sean Bailey found the back of the net at the other end of the ice.

Teammates for last season’s Long Beach Sharks in the NA3HL, Zinnen beamed when bringing up Bailey’s first score of the new year. “Super happy for my boy Sean Bailey,” he boasted. “I’m rooming with him… It’s really cool.”

The Outliers next find their cool after a hiatus, remaining off the ice until Sunday, Nov. 8 when facing the Vernal Oilers. Puck drop stands set for 5:05 p.m. at the Black Rock Mountain Event Center. Fans can purchase tickets online at www.pcoutliers.com/tickets.