Coming off their season-opening series against Jackson Hole Dec. 13-14, the Sun Valley Suns men’s hockey team is happy to be back home in front of its loyal fans for the holiday.
The Suns, entering their 39th season of competition, will stage five home games over the nine days at Sun Valley Skating Center to treat the Christmas/New Year’s holiday crowds at the resort.
Last week Suns coach John Burke announced three benefit organizations that will be featured in the upcoming holiday week games.
The Suns will raise money for the Girls on the Run organization when they host Salt Lake City (Utah) for two games Friday and Saturday, Dec. 27-28 starting at 7 p.m.
Over the next two weeks the Suns (597-251-29 all time) will be shooting to exceed the 600-victory franchise mark—but next Wednesday’s exhibition game against the Future Suns won’t count toward that total.
The Suns will skate with the Future Suns Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 7 p.m. to raise money for Sun Valley Youth Hockey. It is designed to be a fun game to bring hockey players and fans together in a holiday setting, Burke said.
After the New Year, the Suns will entertain Jackson Hole Moose on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 3-4 at 7 p.m. to raise money for Hailey Ice.
It will be the first of four home weekend series during January that will culminate with the annual visit of Bobby Farrelly’s Boston/East Coast Gutter Snipes Jan. 24-25.
Hutch’s is only unbeaten B+ team
Hutch’s Bad Dogs is the only unbeaten B+ Hockey League team after Sunday’s action at Sun Valley Skating Center.
The Bad Dogs (5-0-2) were 4-2 winners over Lampl’s Garage (2-5-0) with single goals by Alex Baron, Andy Bloedorn, Mark Elsbree and Dave McCormack. Hutch’s assists went to Dan Choma and John Baker.
Scoring Lampl’s goals were Chris Corwin and Lacie Hernandez (1 assist). Ian Root chipped in with two assists.
The Sharks (2-4-1) handed Aardvarks (5-1-1) their first loss by a 5-3 score. Alan Dupuis tallied two goals and added an assist for the winners, who also got scoring help from Jay Hedrick and Ted Kelley. Aardvarks scorers were Tim Jeneson (2) and Rod Watson (2 assists). Dan Gorham assisted.
Flounders (3-3-1) added another victory 6-3 over SV Auto Club/Vipers (1-5-1).
Will Hemmings (1 assist) scored a three-goal hat trick for Flounders. Dave Klemer (1 assist) added two and Gunnar Whitehead (3 assists) had a single. Credited with other assists were Terry Crawford (2), Jim Slanetz and Curt Martin.
Goal scorers for Vipers were Dan Gralenski, Travis Kilmer and Greg Townley. Scott Seaward had an assist.
There are no B+ games on Sunday, Dec. 29, but there are two B League games: At 5:15 p.m., Blues vs. Racers and 6:30 p.m. Wolves vs. Flyers.
Sun Valley's Senior “A” Elite men's hockey team, entering its 39th season of competition with a 597-249-29 cumulative record in its 875 games, has a 24-game schedule—20 games at home and 4 away—plus 1 holiday exhibition game. All 2-game home series are played Friday and Saturdays starting at 7 p.m. at Sun Valley Skating Center. Last year’s 11-11-0 team was led by top scorer Bryan O’Connell (25 goals, 7 assists), who returns to lead the new Suns.
Sun Valley Suns 2013-14 Ice Hockey Schedule
| DATES |
OPPONENT |
LOCATION, BENEFITS |
| Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13-14 |
Jackson Hole (Wyo.) Moose |
Snow King Center, Jackson |
| Friday and Saturday, Dec. 27-28 |
Salt Lake City (Utah) |
Home, 7:00, Girls on the Run |
| Wednesday, Jan. 1 |
Future Suns vs. Suns |
Home, 7:00, SV Youth Hockey |
| Friday and Saturday, Jan. 3-4 |
Jackson Hole (Wyo.) Moose |
Home, 7:00, Hailey Ice |
| Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10-11 |
Tri-Cities (Wash.) Hockey Source HC |
Home, 7:00 |
| Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17-18 |
New York Beaver Dam Winter Club |
Home, 7:00 |
| Friday and Saturday, Jan. 24-25 |
Boston/East Coast Gutter Snipes |
Home, 7:00 |
| Friday and Saturday, Jan. 31-Feb. 1 |
No games, Boulder Mt. Ski Tour |
|
| Friday, Feb. 7 |
Park City (Utah) Pioneers |
Park City Ice Arena, 8:15 |
| Saturday, Feb. 8 |
Park City (Utah) Pioneers |
Park City Ice Arena, 7:15 |
| Friday and Saturday, Feb. 14-15 |
Michigan/NAI Sales |
Home, 7:00 |
| Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21-22 |
First Class, B.C., Canada |
Home, 7:00 |
| Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28-March 1 |
Bozeman (Mt.) Stingers |
Home, 7:00 |
| Friday and Saturday, March 14-15 |
Park City (Utah) Pioneers |
Home, 7:00 |
NOTES—All home games at Sun Valley Skating Center begin at 7 p.m. There are three 20-minute periods. Games last about two-and-a-half hours. Ticket prices are $8 general admission, $5 for kids ages 6-18, free for kids 5-and-under.…...Suns players will have their annual Volunteer Aid Station at the Boulder Mountain Ski Tour Feb. 1, 2014….. On Sunday, Jan. 19 following the Suns-New York Beaver Dam series, players from both teams are planning to take part in the 7th annual Idaho Pond Hockey Classic at Atkinson Park…..
Spectators are asked not to bring alcoholic beverages into the arena. Refreshments and food are sold in the rink. Parking will be allowed in the two lots just to the western side of the rink, but no parking will be permitted on Dollar Road. Spectators can also park in the main Sun Valley parking lot by the village.
Sun Valley Suns Roster for 2013-14
Listed are player names, ages, years with the Sun Valley Suns team, hometowns and previous hockey teams.
GOALTENDERS
| Ryan Thomson, 35, 11th year |
Flagstaff, Ariz.. |
New England Coll./Anchorage Aces |
| Billy Cook, 32, 8th year |
Sun Valley |
SV Junior Hockey/Manhattanville |
DEFENSEMEN
| Ivars Muzis, 40, 16th year |
Riga, Latvia |
Juniors Riga |
| Trevor Thomas, 29, 9th year |
San Diego, Ca. |
SV Junior Hockey |
| Zak Greenawalt, 29, 5th year |
Los Angeles |
Sun Valley Suns |
| Alex Redmond, 29, 1st year |
San Jose, Ca. |
Danbury (Ct.) Privateers FHL |
| Brad Miller, 1st year |
Alpharetta, Ga. |
Univ. North Dakota/Idaho Steelheads |
| Dimitri DiBrano, 1st year |
|
Eastern Michigan University |
FORWARDS
| Johnny Miller, 50, 22nd year |
Darien, Conn. |
New Hampton Academy |
| John Stevens, 41, 19th year |
Anchorage, Ak. |
Univ. of Scranton |
| Jamie Ellison, 41, 17th year |
Anchorage, Ak. |
Northern Arizona |
| Ryan Enrico, 33, 11th year |
Hoboken, N.J. |
New England College (Henniker, N.H.) |
| Sinjin Thomas, 27, 7th year |
Sun Valley |
SV Junior Hockey |
| Taylor Rothgeb, 28, 6th year |
Sun Valley |
SV Junior Hockey |
| Bryan O’Connell, 26, 4th year |
Taunton, Mass. |
Castleton State (Vt.) Spartans |
| Chad Levitan, 25, 4th year |
Hailey |
SV Junior Hockey |
| Danny Ward, 25, 4th year |
Sun Valley |
SV Junior Hockey |
| Doug Yeates, 24, 2nd year |
Richmond, Vt. |
Mt. Mansfield Union HS/Skidmore Coll. |
| Marty Flichel, 37, 2nd year |
Hodgeville, Saskatchewan, CanadaIdaho Steelheads |
|
| Spencer Brendel, 2nd year |
Sun Valley |
SV Junior Hockey/St. Thomas (Mn.) |
| Derek Grimes, 1st year |
|
|
| Max Kwok, 1st year |
Sun Valley |
SV Junior Hockey |
BRAIN TRUST
Head coaches—John “Cub” Burke and Steve Morcone.
General managers—Bryan O’Connell, Ryan Thomson and Ryan Enrico.
Team doctors—Dr. Frank Batcha and Dr. Tony Buoncristiani.
Security—Jeff and Tina Carnes. Merchandise—Benefit groups
