The ice hockey season started in earnest in Boise last weekend for the three local women's teams.
Sun Valley's Five Star Kitchen Designs, the Sun Valley Sunsets and Sun Valley Twisters competed in the fifth annual Women's Harvest Classic tournament at Boise's Ice World Friday through Sunday.
Playing in a field of eight, Five Star went 2-3 to finish fourth in the B Division.
Five Star Kitchen Designs snuffed the Boise Wildfire 3-2 on the strength of wing Kipp Mills' hat trick, and followed up with a convincing 3-1 win over the Wasatch (Utah) Wings with scoring by Bege Reynolds (2 goals) and Dotty Sarchett.
Jackson Hole skated to 4-1 victory over Sun Valley Saturday night. In Sunday's semifinals, Salt Lake blanked the Five Star women 2-0 to put Sun Valley in the consolation match for third place against Jackson.
The second time around was a much closer game for Five Star, with Jackson scoring the game-winning goal on a two-man advantage to make it 2-1 with 13:19 remaining.
First-line captain Reynolds netted the tying score off an assist by Sarchett, but despite outshooting the Teton crew 12-4 in the third, Five Star could not net the equalizer.
Jackson Hole proved to be the better team on opening weekend for the shorthanded Sun Valley Sunsets, who went 0-3 against the Teton Passers in the A Division. Jackson won by scores of 3-1, 4-3 and 3-0.
Sunsets goal scorers were Wendy Speth (2), Sheila Naghsh and Lucy Chubb.
Meanwhile in the eight-team C Division, the Sun Valley Twisters (2-2) won the consolation bracket Saturday with a 3-2 victory over Jackson Hole. Laurie Sammis, Devan Annan (Lolly Greeninger) and Mia Edsall (Annan) scored goals.
Another highlight for the Twisters was their first game Friday, which went to a shootout after a 1-1 regulation tie with Boise Black Widows. Annan (Tristan Ellison-Gralenski) scored for Sun Valley in regulation, then Edsall had the game winner in the shootout.
Edsall and Twisters goalie Linda McMahon shared the MVP honor in the exciting win.
Saturday, the Twisters fell to Park City Predators 5-1 and Tri-City Brew Crew 2-0. Annan scored another goal and goalie Danae Commons (20 saves) had a fine game against Park City.
Other Twisters enjoying the weekend were Jen Biondi, Laura Blash, Susanne Connor, Dana Price, Jennifer Provonsha, Janet Salvoni, Anna Scheinfield, Jen Schultz and Becky Stokes. See next week's Local Life for a team photo.
The three teams play in the Park City Invitational, Dec. 7-9.
