The 30th season of the Sun Valley Suns men's senior hockey team comes home to Sun Valley Skating Center with the staging of three games over the holiday. Two will be benefits for local youth programs.
Next Tuesday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m., the Suns will host their second annual Current Suns vs. Future/Past Suns exhibition game, for the benefit of Sun Valley Junior Hockey. Tickets are $6 adults, $3 kids.
"It's a fun game for a good cause," said Suns coach Chris Benson.
Because of the newly-formed Suns Foundation Inc. and its fund-raising capabilities linked to professional golfer Davis Love III, all proceeds from ticket sales of Tuesday's exhibition game will go to the Sun Valley Junior Hockey program.
Past Suns general manager Pete Prekeges said, "One hundred percent of the gate will go to the junior hockey general fund."
Due to skate for Past Suns are Dale Johnson, Dave Hutchinson, Phil Hebert, Andrew Hebert, Glenn Hunter, John Burke, Harry Weekes, Tim Jeneson, Peter Whitehead and Mark Broz. They'll share a bench with Future Suns Blake Jenson, Cody Lampl, Justin Taylor, Joey Sides, Ryan McDonald, Tyson Reynoso and Matt Ward. Goalies are Bobby Farrelly, Billy Cook and David Stone.
Celebrities playing for the Future/Past Suns include Mats Wilander and Zach Crist.
A big New Year's weekend series matches the Suns (1-1) with the McCall Manchester Mountaineers (3-3). The Mountaineers are loaded with former Idaho Steelheads minor league hockey players from Boise.
The Suns are expected to have their full team for McCall, with the exception of Paul Baranzelli. Jake Glotfelty will be back on defense
Game times for the McCall two-game series are Friday and Saturday, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 at 7 p.m. Ticket prices are $6 adults and $3 kids. The New Year's Day game Saturday night will deliver all ticket proceeds to Camp Rainbow Gold.
Other Suns benefits planned for this winter, all on Saturday, include: Jan. 8, Hailey Ice Rink; Feb. 12, Blaine County Recreation District; Feb. 19, Sun Valley Junior Hockey/Brett Sammis Scholarship Fund; and March 5, "Girls on the Run."
