News
SAVE THE DATE
It’s time to Golf with the Suns
After a successful campaign at Elkhorn last year we’re back again for the 2nd Annual Suns Golf Tournament this year. We’ve got a superstar special guest this year and will have a pre-tournament auction for spots in their foursome.
When:
September 16, 2023
Registration and Range 9:00a MT
Tee-off at 10a MT
Where:
Elkhorn Golf Club, Sun Valley
Style:
Shotgun + Scramble
Food will be included
Bagged lunch from Johnny G’s
Buffet from La Cab
Fees to Play:
$150 per person
$600 per foursome
$20 per mulligan, limit 2 per person
*registration will happen online this year, but to save players more of the transaction fees we’ll do all payments at the tournament (cash, check, or credit)
Festivities:
At the Elkhorn clubhouse
Silent and Live Auction afterwards
We’ll have awards for longest drive and closest to the pin (mens and womens), as well as tournament champs. We’ll also have more merch on hand this year for those who want to purchase Suns gear.
If you’ve received this email, it’s because you played or sponsored a hole last year and will get first chance at a returning spot. We’d love to see you back again this year!
Space is limited and we’ll be opening up the tournament to the public on August 15, 2023 so get your spot now.
Copyright (C) 2023 Sun Valley Suns Hockey Club. All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.
Our mailing address is:
Sun Valley Suns Hockey Club 680 Second Ave Ketchum, ID 83340 USA
Senior Suns win Championship
Staff of Suns leads Northland Stars to 70-plus national championship
Organized by Sun Valley Suns President of Hockey Operations John Burke, the Northland Stars won the over-70 USA Hockey National Championships last week in Wesley Chapel, Fla.
Coached by Suns captain Doug Yeates, the Stars beat Byfluglein 5-2 in the championship game to finish the tournament undefeated. The Stars started the title game fast, going up 3-0 with goals by Frank Evans, Tom Mountain and Jim Rogers. Byfuglein fought back in the third period, scoring two goals to shrink the lead before former NHL player Mark Heaslip put one in to end the attack.
Ken Yeates added the fifth and final dagger on an assist from his brother Jim Yeates to secure the victory.
This is the first over-70 title for Burke’s team, though he has been a part of over-50 and over-60 champions in the past.
“We out-coached and out-played everyone all week,” Heaslip said after the win.
Burke rounded out the Stars with players from around the country, including AHL standout Glenn Irwin, Doug Jackson, John Mills, Dan Downey, Boise skater John Molenar, four-time Stanley Cup champion Gord Lane, and tournament MVP Tim Burge in goal. Burge let in just six goals all tournament, logging one shutout on his way to earning Most Valuable Player honors in a unanimous vote of the organizing committee.
Though Burke put the team together, he couldn’t make the tournament—he was caddying on the PGA Tour for pro golfer Keegan Bradley.
The team plans to repeat their championship next year during the same week, Coach Yeates said. 
Coop finishes with a flourish
Suns MVP Matt Cooper bows out with 'Eclipse Bowl' wins
Sun Valley Suns goalie Matt Cooper, the one indispensable player during the recently-completed Suns ice hockey season, enjoyed a proper sendoff to his Campion Ice House career March 17-18 in Hailey.
In his final games before dedicating himself to a new business initiative, Cooper stopped 70 of 73 shots over two nights as the Suns won the “Eclipse Bowl” title for 2023 with rousing 6-2 and 7-1 victories over the Moon Mountain Moon skaters from the North Shore of Massachusetts.
Suns head coach Ryan Enrico said, “Coop’s finale. A Great Sun. Once a Sun, always a Sun.” Enrico added that Cooper earned the “Eclipse Bowl” Most Valuable Player award along with the “George Jacket” and “Cub’s Cap” nods for the finale.
Cooper also sang the national anthem, a cappella without musical accompaniment, before the St. Patrick’s Day game with the Moon. Then he went out and helped the deep Suns stretch their season-ending winning streak to seven games and wrap up a successful 21-3 campaign.
The Suns defense back-stopped by Cooper allowed only nine goals in the last five games of the season.
Line-mates Justin Taylor and D.J. Robinson led the Suns offense with five points apiece against the Moon. The Suns ended the season outscoring opponents 154-69, thanks to a diversified offense that had 15 players with points against the Moon.
Top scorer Nick Curry (28 goals, 25 assists for 53 points) had two goals as did Taylor (19 goals, 17 assists for 36 points) in the 7-1 romp.
Seventh-year goalie Cooper, 31, from Duluth (Minnesota) East High and the ACHA Iowa State Cyclones in Ames from 2012-15, finished his final two Suns seasons with a cumulative 26-3 record. He was the ironman Suns goalie this season boasting a 19-2 mark and 2.69 goals-against average, with 701 saves.
Cooper ranks among the top-five Suns goaltenders of all-time with a 54-17-1 record and .750 winning percentage from 2016-23. His winning record is second to Suns pioneer goalie Charlie Holt (57-12-3 and .792 winning percentage 1975-79). Dan Nee, Ryan Thomson and Tony Benson are the other top goalies.
A total 1,035 spectators watched the Suns and Moons play hockey. The Suns spectator season tally finalized at 9,181 for 18 home games to date, averaging 510 a game.
