For the week of April 10 - 16 , 2002

Now, from Barebutt, Minnesota…

Suns (28-2) make it look mean

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There’s nothing hockey fans appreciate more than a grape and an orange and none of that stinkin’ root beer. Unless it’s a visit from the Slap Shot boys from Barebutt, Minnesota….

The Suns, including rookie defenseman Tim Tracy, gave the fans the shirts off their backs this season. Express photo by Willy Cook

Sun Valley Suns rookie defenseman Tim Tracy was born a year after the 1977 debut of the legendary hockey movie "Slap Shot," but Tracy made it look real mean Saturday on "Fan Appreciation Night."

He took nearly all of it off.

You might say the man had a trying rookie season. You might say God Bless the Hanson Brothers!

You might say, well, Tracy should change his name to Killer—he scores as many goals without clothes as he does wearing them.

Saturday night, less than a minute remained in the unsurpassed Suns season of 2001-02 when Tracy appeared on the blueline wearing nothing but his jockstrap, helmet, a few pads and skates.

His name and number were scrawled with some kind of marker across his naked back, and the words "Thanks, fans," were written on his bare butt.

Yet another high point in a terrific Suns season.

Suns captain Chris Benson teamed with Luke Smith and John Miller to form the oldest forward line in Suns history last weekend. They led the team in scoring with 15 of the team’s 41 points. Express photo by Willy Cook

There was a groundswell of appreciation among the female fans and hearty heehaws from the men until the entire rink was awash with laughter. Was it a dare, or just a Hotchkiss kid having some fun?

Suns captain Chris Benson explained, "There was a little money involved. Let’s say under three figures. But he’s a crazy, crazy kid so it didn’t take too much for him to do it."

Unbelievably, Tracy actually scored a goal with 30 seconds left. It was the last of a record-setting 211 Suns goals this season and only Tracy’s second—one fully suited, one as naked as Ogie Oglethorpe and Dr. Hook wish they were with that girl down the bar.

Center Tom Forti enjoyed an excellent season with 14 goals and 19 assists. Express photo by Willy Cook

It’s old-time hockey. Just as long as they don’t put him in the penalty box all by himself.

Talking about the Viagra generation, the Suns won both games with the appropriately-named Connecticut Camels 4-1 and 10-5 last weekend chiefly because of the oldest forward line in Suns history.

Chris Benson, Luke Smith and John Miller, 108 years in all, racked up 15 of the 41 Suns points, all fully clothed. They can make action figures of all of them, including young Tim.

 

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.