BY MICHAEL DAVID
The Sun Valley Suns Hockey Club family gathered for a celebration Saturday night at the Campion Ice House. Current Suns and Future Suns teamed up for the Black vs. Red Holiday Classic, with the Black victorious over the Red by a final score of 8-3, in front of a packed house in Hailey.
More important than the final score was the opportunity for the fans to watch the young, talented hockey players, all who participated in Sun Valley Youth Hockey at one point, team up with the current Suns in some fast-paced hockey action.
The Red jumped out to an early lead in the first period on a goal by Cade Street, assisted by current Sun Chad Levitan and Drew Punnett. The Black squad’s Parker Weekes scored 5 seconds later to tie the score 1-1.
In the second period, Sun Valley Youth Hockey Executive Director and current Sun, Robbie Murden scored to put the Black ahead for good. Young Alex Schwartz scored moments later, assisted by current Sun DJ Robinson, and then Robinson put one between the pipes with the helper coming from his Sun teammate Derek Grimes.
Also scoring goals Saturday night were Suns Mike Curry, Stephen McCall and Alex O’Neil. Futures Cameron Benson and Carter Miller also tallied scores in the contest. Miller’s goal was extra satisfying as the assist was delivered by his father, long-time Sun, Johnny Miller.
Logging considerable minutes for the Black and Red squads were Ellie Punnett, Megan Johnson and Sydney Roberts. This marked the first time women have skated in the Suns/Future Suns game, and these ladies played great hockey, mixing it up with the men at the Campion Ice House rink.
Sun James Moskus was in goal for the Red squad, and James Everett and Trip Hutchinson tended the net for the Black team. Coach of the Red team was Pete Whitehead while Chris Benson coached the Black squad. Proceeds from the event benefited the Sun Valley Youth Hockey program.
Suns are back in action next weekend, December 29th and 30th, in Hailey against their BDHL rivals, the Jackson Moose. Puck drops at 7 p.m. both nights.