BY BOB B. OAR

It was a homecoming to remember for the Sun Valley Youth Hockey Bantams. Both their 14U A and B teams took first place in their respective divisions at their annual home tournament held recently at Campion Ice House.

Hailey Ice hosted 11 teams from Idaho, Utah and Montana for the hard-hitting action.

The A team avenged a loss during round-robin play by defeating the Bozeman Ice Dogs 4-1 in the championship game.

Jett Van Bueren, Patrick Hebert and Taj Redman each had a goal and an assist in the title game. Sawyer Morgan also scored while Mason Bucknall and Sam McKenna had assists.

Naomi Gorringe had 44 saves in the title match and she and fellow goalie, Caleb Kurtz, combined to allow just 2 goals per game in the tournament.

Coached by Andrew Hebert and David Reid, the A team got great play from Alex Carlson, Blakeslee Davis-Jeffers, Rydge Douthit, Will Lamoureaux, Kolten Marcroft, Joe Mathews, Gage Nisson, Charile Reid and Decker Sinnamon.

The B team went undefeated in the tournament, beating the Idaho Falls Eagles 4-2 in the championship game. Weston Butler scored twice and Ayden Swain and Miles Dean also lit the lamp, while Hudson Saltarella and Kenneth Weinrauch picked up assists in the title tilt. Zach Drabek and Lukas Paaske shared goaltending duties and the duo allowed just 1.5 goals per game.

Coached by Alec Broman, Dan Nevala, Wes Southward and Brandon Swain, the team had an impressive weekend thanks to the play of Ezrian Bean, Peyton Cooley, Brayden Edgerton, Finley Minas, Ari Nevala, Max Reeder, Lennon Southward, Briggs Stevenson and Kellen Turner.

“The kids played really well and if I had to sum up the weekend in three words they would be: ‘passion, effort and camaraderie,’ ” Coach Broman said. “I’m really proud of both teams.”