U18 hockey team is one to watch
BY MATTHEW LETOURNEAU
From faceoff to buzzer, the Sun Valley Boys High School Hockey Team is slicing up the competition. With a current record of 13 wins, two losses, and three ties, it’s as clear as ice that the Boy’s Varsity A Team is skating toward greatness this winter. Under coaches Blake Jenson, Chris Benson and Danny Gariepy, and the leadership of senior captains Zack Benson, Tommy Nisson and Brock Burrell, the 17 players, many of whom have flown through the ranks of youth hockey together, are ready to keep giving it their all.
Although this season started later than usual, the team has already succeeded in games and tournaments across the Western region, in cities such as Boise, McCall, and Bozeman. However, according to Clayton Elsbree, the team’s starting goalie, “The highlight of the season was the Vegas tournament.” Here, the team faced off against a multitude of very tough, international teams, the majority of which were Canadian. Although the boys didn’t score a win, they managed to place third and learned a lot that will help them down the line. As Elsbree said, “It was a real eye-opener to how good the competition is.” With the help of a large turnout of cheering fans, the experiences from that early Vegas tournament led the boys to victory during a home tournament earlier this month. However, it is more than just game experience that makes these high school Suns great.
In actuality, it is the team’s superb camaraderie that makes them truly stand out from past teams. According to head coach Blake Jenson, “The way the players come together as a team, their commitment to the sport, and their tenacity to get to the next level makes an ideal situation for a coach.” The majority of the team has known each other since they were children, and the current group of seniors has played together since they were PeeWees. “We’re the tightest we’ve ever been,” Elsbree says. “Last year there were some people who didn’t get along so well, but there’s been none of that this season.”
Regardless of whether there are disagreements or not, it’s clear that this team is a family, and this bond pushes everyone to be the best hockey player they can be. However, a team’s connectedness means nothing without skill, and luckily these boys have an abundance of it. According to Jenson:
“Clayton is a wall in the net. Jacob is an ideal backup goalie with a stellar attitude. Zach and Dawson are clutch scorers and playmakers! Tommy, Max, Finn and Gus are strong power forwards who can bury the puck and make opponents struggle to create plays. Billy and Trace are constantly persistent at their roles and continue to impress. Our defense—Brock, Rabbit, Gage, Luke and Jake—continue to step up and shut teams down!”
Although the team has done well so far, they have big expectations for the rest of the year. They have upcoming tournaments across the state and in other western cities, such as Seattle. The team is hoping to compete in the High School Boys Nationals tournament for the third time in a row, and improve the fifth-place finish they secured for the past two years. “There’s a better chance this year,” says Elsbree. “We’ve all had one goal this season: to win it.” Only time will tell if this goal is accomplished, but right now, this small-town team is showing a lot of promise, a lot of commitment, and a lot of heart.