Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Sun Valley girls skate in Idaho Falls

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The Sun Valley Suns U-19 girls? team opened the season at Idaho Falls last weekend. Back row, left to right, Katie Pruett, Gina Rickling, Kelly Hennessy, Aimee Evans, Dylan Peterson, Nellie Brown, Devan Annan and Daniela Stokes. Front row, Emma Wilander, Lydia Gorham, Elena Almquist, Tanner Dredge, Erin Hennessy.

The hardworking Sun Valley girls' hockey team cleared a big hurdle winning its first game of the season at Idaho Falls Saturday.

The Suns U-19 girls bested Salmon 10-3, racking up a 35-3 advantage in shots over the Lady Rapids. Captain Katie Pruett recorded a hat trick.

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Despite outshooting Idaho Falls by one in the second game, the Suns fell 4-0. Goalie Emma Wilander shutout the Eagles in the third period.

Facing a numbers crunch typical of many small towns, Sun Valley is not a true U-19 team. The team has five 16-year olds and a few as young as 11, but a fiery never-say-die attitude is sure to serve them well as they skate against much older and experienced opponents as they did facing a pair of "Select" U-19 teams from Wyoming and Utah on Sunday.

Wyoming won 5-0 and Utah 11-2. Wilander made 47 saves in the two games and was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament for the Suns.

"Emma faced 35 shots in one game and made some incredible saves, including some back door shots that are very difficult to defend at any level," coach Jennifer Embree said.

Embree applauded her whole team's effort.

"They were great. They stepped up when they had the opportunity and played very well against two select teams playing very sound hockey."

Game pucks were awarded to Katie Pruett, Daniela Stokes, Lydia Gorham and Erin Hennessy, who scored her first ever goal on the girls' team against the Utah Lady Grizzlies.

"It was a beautiful goal, too. Not a fluke," a spectator remarked.

Scoring: Katie Pruett 3/1; Devan Annan 2/2; Daniela Stokes 2/1; Aimee Evans 1/2; Lydia Gorham 1/2; Dylan Peterson 1/2; Elena Almquist 1/1; Kelly Hennessy 1/1; Erin Hennessy 1/1. Tanner Dredge and Nellie Brown skated on defense. Gina Rickling skated up front.

Sun Valley travels to Salmon on December 8 and is scheduled to host home games in mid-January.