Wednesday — February 4, 2004

Suns gear up
for Bucks visit

Moose sweep Suns again 7-2, 4-1

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This coming weekend, the Sun Valley Suns men’s hockey team entertains one of its oldest and toughest rivals when the Bucks Unfinished Furniture sextet arrives from Bloomington, Minn. for 7 p.m. games Friday and Saturday, Feb. 6-7.

"We’re looking to get back to our winning ways against the Bucks," said Suns coach Johnny Ellison. Sun Valley (5-5), losers of four straight, dropped two games 7-2 and 4-1 to the Jackson Hole Moose Friday and Saturday in Wyoming.

Ivars Muzis, Suns defenseman, has provided sorely needed offense with 2 goals/2 assists in the last four games against the Jackson Hole Moose. Express photo by Willy Cook

The Bucks, 2001 National Elite tournament champions, last visited Sun Valley Jan. 25-26, 2002. The Suns swept that series, winning 6-5 (OT) and 7-2 to stretch their two-season win streak to 21. The streak ended a week later at 22 when the Moose beat the host Suns 2-1.

In 10 visits to Sun Valley dating back to 1986 including their last trips in 2002 and 1997, the Bucks still maintain an 11-8-1 advantage. So the Minnesota sextet remains one of Sun Valley’s toughest foes.

Last weekend, the Moose (14-2) dominated the shorthanded Suns with a 90-44 shot advantage and an 11-3 goals cushion. Ivars Muzis scored two goals, one on the power play, and Brian Watts added a power-play goal for the Suns.

Check the Express Web site for updated Suns season statistics and last weekend’s hockey summary against the Moose.

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Moose 7, Suns 2
Friday

Sun Valley Suns 0 1 1 2
Jackson Hole Moose 2 3 2 7

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FIRST PERIOD—(1) Moose, Justin Martin (Gregg Gripentrog, Chris Demarco), 2:32. (2) Moose, Joe Casey (Tim Gibbons, Aaron Ackley), 19:35, power play goal.

SECOND PERIOD—(3) Moose, Josh Theken (Casey, Bryan Hannafin), 2:02. (4) Moose, Hannafin (unassisted), 3:37, shorthanded goal. (5) SV, Ivars Muzis 2 (John Stevens), 6:45. (6) Moose, Hannafin (Dustin Stolp, Demarco), 11:20, power play goal.

THIRD PERIOD—(7) Moose, Casey (Hannafin, Jon Bradford), 1:33. (8) Moose, Gripentrog (T.C. Harris), 8:27. (9) SV, Brian Watts 2 (Vilnis Nikolaisons, Stevens), 15:13, power play goal.

SHOTS ON GOAL—For Sun Valley, 8-9-11 for 28; for Jackson Hole 15-15-11 for 41.

GOALIES—SV, James Moskos (34 saves, 0-1-0 season record); Jackson Hole, Marc Morningstar (26 saves);

NOTES—Dale Johnson’s nephews Peter Miner (forward) and Paul Miner (defenseman) joined the Suns for the Wyoming weekend. So did Kevin Bullock, former Suns skater Billy Tryder and ex-Suns goalie James Moskos of Massachusetts, who played tonight between the pipes. The Suns were playing shorthanded at Jackson Hole. Defenseman Eric Demment is out a couple of weeks with a knee (MCL) injury. Goalie Ryan Thomson is sidelined at least another three weeks with a torn muscle below his hip. Rohan Verplank fell in practice for junior hockey and received stitches in his elbow. He’ll be out a couple of weeks, head coach Johnny Ellison said. John Miller was out of town for business and Chris King had to work. On the Suns’ voluntary retired list are Frank Salvoni and Kris Webster…. The Suns started the game with three forward lines and two sets of defensemen. The starting lines were Chris Benson-Ryan Enrico-Luke Smith, John Stevens-Jamie Ellison-Vilnis Nikolaisons, Billy Tryder-Brian Watts-Caleb Baukol. Rotating in for Tryder was Kevin Bullock. Defensemen were Pat Finnegan-Chris Warrington, Ivars Muzis-Paul Baranzelli, with Josh Jacobson rotating in…..Luke Smith needed eight stitches after being high sticked during the game.

 

 

Moose 4, Suns 1
Saturday

Sun Valley Suns 0 1 0 1
Jackson Hole Moose 2 1 1 4

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FIRST PERIOD—(1) Moose, Justin Martin (Gregg Gripentrog, T.C. Harris), 6:46. (2) Moose, Aaron Ackley (Gripentrog), 8:39.

SECOND PERIOD—(3) SV, Ivars Muzis 3 (Vilnis Nikolaisons, Paul Baranzelli), 6:46, power play goal. (4) Moose, Martin (Ackley), 11:43.

THIRD PERIOD—(5) Moose, Joe Casey (Bryan Hannafin, Chris Demarco), 19:54, empty net goal.

SHOTS ON GOAL—For Sun Valley, 5-8-3 for 16; for Jackson Hole 16-17-16 for 49.

GOALIES—SV, Matt Gershater (46 saves, 2-3-0 season record); Jackson Hole, Marc Morningstar (15 saves);

NOTES—The Moose continued their recent domination over the Suns. Jackson outshot the Suns 90-44, out-pointed the home team 28-8 and outscored the Suns 11-3. The Moose now lead 19-8-1 in the seven-year series and have captured seven of the last eight meetings.….The Suns switched their forward lines again. Starting lines were Vilnis Nikolaisons-Jamie Ellison-Luke Smith, John Stevens-Ryan Enrico-Chris Benson, Peter Miner-Brian Watts-Caleb Baukol. Kevin Bullock rotated in, and then took Chris Benson’s place on the Enrico line when Fester pulled a stomach muscle in the second period and had to leave the game…..John Stevens, Ivars Muzis and Vilnis Nikolaisons each had 2 points to lead the Suns attack. Weekend point leaders for the Moose were Bryan Hannafin (2 goals, 3 assists for 5 points), Joe Casey (3-1 for 4) and Gregg Gripentrog (1-3 for 4).
 

 

 

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2003-04 Sun Valley Suns
Season statistics

(5-5 overall: 3-3 home, 2-2 away)

as of February 4, 2004

 

PLAYER	GAMES	GOALS	AST.	PTS.	PMIN
Vilnis Nikolaisons	10	5	8	13	2.0
Paul Baranzelli	10	4	6	10	21.0
Ryan Enrico	10	5	4	9	4.0
Eric Demment	8	5	4	9	4.0
Ivars Muzis	8	3	5	8	2.0
Jamie Ellison	10	2	6	8	24.0
Chris King	8	2	6	8	0.0
John Stevens	10	4	3	7	8.0
Luke Smith	10	5	1	6	6.0
Rohan Verplank	8	3	3	6	4.0
John Miller	8	1	5	6	0.0
Pat Finnegan	10	2	3	5	9.0
Chris Warrington	10	1	3	4	0.0
Brian Watts	8	2	1	3	4.0
Kris Webster	2	2	1	3	2.0
Frank Salvoni	6	1	1	2	2.0
Chris Benson	8	0	1	1	2.0
Mike Selhay	3	0	1	1	9.0
Matt Gershater	5	0	1	1	2.0
Caleb Baukol	8	0	0	0	4.0
Ryan Thomson	5	0	0	0	0.0
J.J. Hanley	5	0	0	0	0.0
Josh Jacobson	7	0	0	0	19.0
Peter Miner	2	0	0	0	0.0
Paul Miner	2	0	0	0	0.0
Kevin Bullock	2	0	0	0	2.0
Billy Tryder	1	0	0	0	0.0
James Moskos	1	0	0	0	0.0

 

GOALTENDER	GAMES	GOALS	W-L	AVG.
Ryan Thomson	4.1	20	3-1-0	4.88
Matt Gershater	4	22	2-2-0	5.50
James Moskos	1	7	0-1-0	7.00

 

Shots—Gershater 159, Thomson 128, Moskos 41.
Saves—Gershater 134, Thomson 107, Moskos 34.
Shootout saves—0.
Shootout goals allowed—0.
Shutouts—0.
Empty net goals—2.

 

SCORE BY  PERIODS	1ST	2ND	3RD	OT	TOT	AVE
Opposition	16	21	17	0	54	5.4
Sun Valley	12	13	22	0	47	4.7

 

 

 

INDIVIDUAL MARKS

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Two-goal games (6)—Luke Smith 2, Ryan Enrico 1, Vilnis Nikolaisons 1, Paul Baranzelli 1, John Stevens 1.

Hat tricks or more (0)—0.

Game-winning goals—Eric Demment 1.

Power play goals (8-35, 23%)—Vilnis Nikolaisons 2, Eric Demment 2, John Miller 1, Paul Baranzelli 1, Brian Watts 1, Ivars Muzis 1. Power play goals (opposition): 7-34, (21%).

Shorthanded goals (3)—Ryan Enrico 1, Chris Warrington 1, Eric Demment 1. Shorthanded goals (opposition): 5.

Season penalty minutes: SV 130, opponents 144.

 

 

 

GAME RESULTS

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Total record: 5-5
Record in 1-goal games: 2-0
Record in overtime: 0-0-0
Games scoring 9 or more goals: 1
Games scoring 7 or more goals: 3

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December 19 (H) Sun Valley 10, Portland Checks 2
December 20 (H) Sun Valley 5, Portland Checks 4
January 2 (H) Sun Valley 7, Boise Blades 4
January 3 (H) Boise Blades 8, Sun Valley 5
January 16 (A) Sun Valley 8, McCall Mountaineers 5
January 17 (A) Sun Valley 5, McCall Mountaineers 4
January 23 (H) Jackson Hole Moose 10, Sun Valley 2
January 24 (H) Jackson Hole Moose 6, Sun Valley 2
January 30 (A) Jackson Hole Moose 7, Sun Valley 2
January 31 (A) Jackson Hole Moose 4, Sun Valley 1

 

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