For the week of December 5 - 11, 2001

Midgets tune up with hockey games in Boise

Three wins for Sun Valley

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The Sun Valley #1 Midget team got a great jump out of the gate, going 3-1 in Intermountain Hockey League games last weekend at Ice World in Boise.

The Suns defeated Boise 4-2, Idaho Falls 2-1 and Salmon 6-1. Sun Valley only loss was to Las Vegas by a score of 2-1.

"Overall, it went well," coach Randy Berner said. "We beat two of our big in-state rivals. We got a wake up call in our last game, but I think we learned not to take teams for granted."

Berner was referring to the loss against Las Vegas (1-7), a team previously winless in league play.

He said, "Their goalie won the game for them. We outshot them 30-14, but it was one of the games where you run into a hot goalie and don’t get any bounces."

Bobby Sloper’s goal from Justin Taylor equalized the game 1-all in the second, but Vegas scored with a minute remaining to capture the contest.

"We missed a lot of assignments backchecking and they put it in on the second rebound," Berner remarked.

It was a disappointing way to end a previously terrific showing.

The Suns started off with a 4-2 victory over Boise. The Sun Valley-Boise series has turned into a fierce, chippy rivalry.

Sun Valley scored twice in the first—Tyler Klune from Kellen Chatterton and Justin Taylor from Klune and Sloper—and tacked on two more in the second—Matt Conover from Klune and Noah Loyd from Tate Mills and Taylor Rothgeb.

Goalie Corey Simpson made 13 saves.

The Suns punched out Salmon 6-1. Zach Bloomfield and Loyd both scored and tallied an assist on the first two goals.

"The third line (including Tate Mills) played really well over the weekend," Berner said.

Rothgeb (Klune/Conover), Blake Schnebly (Bloomfield), Klune and Sloper (Taylor/Chatterton) also lit the light. Salmon scored with 5:38 left to prevent the shutout by Simpson (14 saves).

A 2-1 final score against Idaho Falls does not indicate how thoroughly the Suns dominated their oldest rival.

"The guys played real well. We totally outplayed them," Berner said.

Sun Valley held a 32-14 shot advantage in the game.

Both goals came off the stick of defenseman Cody Lampl.

Trailing 1-0 in the second, Lampl collected a feed from Simpson (13 saves) and went coast-to-coast to knot the score.

With a mere 12 seconds left in the game, Lampl gathered in a pass from Kent Grimes converted on a 2-on-1 with Sloper.

"It was good to come out with the win," Berner summed up.

Jackson Hole currently leads the IMHL Midget standings with a 4-0 record.

Ogden is second at 3-4. Sun Valley #1, the Boise Blades and Rock Springs are tied for third place with 3-1 marks. Sun Valley #2 is sixth at 2-2. Rounding out the nine-team league are Idaho Falls at 1-2, Salmon at 1-3 and Las Vegas at 1-7.

Sun Valley’s #1 and #2 teams travel to Las Vegas Dec. 8-9 for league games against Vegas, Ogden and Boise.

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.