It will be the top-seeded Isles (9-5-1) against the third-seeded Vipers (9-6-1) in the championship game of the "Hutch Cup" B+ Hockey League playoffs on Easter Sunday, April 12 at Sun Valley Skating Center.
The Isles skate against the Vipers at 6:30 p.m. preceded by the "Hutch Cup" consolation game at 5:15 p.m. between the #5-seeded defending champion Hutch's Bad Dogs (5-8-3) and #4 Wildcats (7-6-3).
Vipers earned their shot at the Isles with a dominating 8-2 semi-final triumph over Hutch's Bad Dogs last Sunday. The Vipers seized the initiative with a 4-0 first-period lead on two goals apiece by Scott Miller and Steve McCoy. Alex Baron added a three-goal hat trick and Terry Crawford had an insurance tally.
Wendy Speth scored twice for the only Hutch's Bad Dogs goals.
In other Sunday games, the #6 Sharks (5-11-1) blanked #2 Senators (8-7-1) by a 3-0 score on goals by Brad Dredge, Buck Drew and Dan Gralenski. Then the Wildcats ousted the Sharks 7-3. Wildcats goals: Pete Shafer (4), Mark Johnson, Nic Thomas and Merri Whitehead. Sharks goals: Brian Dirksmeier, Chris Roberts and Gralenski.
A preliminary game this coming Sunday matches the Rangers vs. Hawks at 4 p.m.
The B and B+ season-ending pizza and beverage party will take place at the rink at 5:15 p.m. Sunday after the Rangers-Hawks regular-season finale and during the second annual "Hutch Cup" consolation and championship contests.
Twisters pick up a win at Ogden
First-year Sun Valley Twisters ice hockey player Tryntje Van Slyke punched home a wicked backhander for her first-ever game goal, lifting the "C" level Twisters to a 3-2 victory over the Wasatch (Utah) Wings Sunday at Ogden, Utah.
Action took place in the third Twisters game of the 2009 Icebreaker hockey meet. Nine Sun Valley players joined up with four Boise skaters to form the Twisters (1-1-1 at Ogden), coached by John Ellison.
For her effort, Van Slyke won the Johnny Bravo MVP tournament jacket at Ogden.
The Twisters also tied Utah Ice Vixen 1-1 (goal Lisa Wood, assist Tristan Ellison-Gralenski) and fell 4-1 to the Utah Black Diamonds. Goalie Linda McMahon was a star with 27 saves in the 1-1 tie.
The other goal by a Sun Valley-based player came in the Wings game from Ellison-Gralenski, unassisted. Rounding out the local roster were Laura Blash, Susanne Connor, Erika Connelly, Gayle Selisch and Jennifer Schultz.