Stingers Sweep McCall in Home Opener

January 17, 2024
by Merrick Parnell

The Bozeman Stingers Senior A Hockey club started the new year with a bang as they swept the McCall Mountaineers at home this past weekend.

Game One vs McCall

On Friday, the Stingers would top the Mountaineers 7-6 in a game that featured a flurry of goals and offense. After trailing 3-2 after the first period, Bozeman would rebound to combine two more solid periods. Capitan and Montana State Alum Luke Bing would lead Bozeman’s goal scorers with a hat trick in the offensive zone on a three-goal night. Kurt Koski would backstop the Stinger’s win in net in the first game.

Game Two vs McCall

On Saturday, the Stingers would continue their high-octane offense to net 13 goals against McCall to win 13-3. In another red-hot offensive performance, Bozeman would go up 4-1 after the first period, 8-1 at the end of the second, and scored another five goals in the third.

McCall would score the game’s first goal early into the first period, but the Stinger’s defense would hold McCall off the board until the third when the Mountaineers mustered only two more goals. Bing would again lead Bozeman’s scoring with a follow-up hat trick performance. 

“We came out fast and put a lot of quality shots on their goalie from the get-go. Great passing and quick play with four full lines allowed us to take advantage of their shorter bench,” said Bozeman forward Kyle Tolliver. “They started to get tired after the first period, and we were able to control possession for most of the game.” Tolliver would also net a goal in the second game.

The game had lots of high energy, and aside from a few penalties and a couple of scrums, it was a clean game. The Stinger’s rookie netminder, Chris Slater, got the start and was sound in the net, making key saves and having excellent rebound control.

“The sweep brings us [the Stingers] to .500 and gives us a lot of momentum going into the tougher part of our schedule,” said Bing.

Upcoming Games

The Bozeman Stingers will focus on their next opponent, the Sun Valley Suns. The Suns come to town on January 26th and 27th for a two-game series. Sun Valley is also a top team in the Black Diamond Hockey League and is undefeated in the 2023-2024 season.

For more info, check out their website: https://bozeman-stingers.com or follow them on Instagram @bozemanstingers.