BY MICHAEL DAVID

 Playing competition hockey for the first time in nearly two years, the Sun Valley Suns matched up against their rivals from Montana--the Bozeman Stingers--in front of throngs of masked fans at The Campion Ice House in Hailey this weekend.

 Despite outshooting Bozeman 63-33, the Suns dropped the opener on Friday night, losing in overtime by a score of 4-3. Scoring goals for Sun Valley: Steve McCall, Max Tardy and Nick Curry. Bobby Bowden shined in goal, but the Stingers snuck one by him 1:21 into the sudden death overtime period for the victory.

 On Saturday the Suns took advantage of their scoring opportunities and thoroughly dominated the visitors by a score of 10-2.

Nick Curry scored four times to lead the charge. Tardy helped out with four assists and Suns rookie Brendan McGovern scored his first career goal. Goals were tallied also by Spencer Brendel, Chad O’Brien, Eric Demment, Taylor Rothgeb, and Tardy.

Once again, Bowden played well between the pipes, frustrating the boys from Bozeman while helping himself by starting two breakaways and picking up a couple of rare goalie assists.

 The Suns play next week against a talented Boston Moons squad on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 10 and 11, at The Campion Ice House in Hailey. The puck drops at 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, check out today’s Eye on Sun Valley video of the high-scoring action in Saturday’s game.