The Sun Bowl Classic alumni game at the Sun Bowl Arena in Osoyoos on Sept. 20 saw Vancouver Canucks alumni defeat Coyotes alumni 6–3.
The Story
The Osoyoos Coyotes alumni and Vancouver Canucks alumni took part in the Sun Bowl Classic alumni game on Sept. 20 at the Sun Bowl Arena in Osoyoos, marking the second straight year for the event.
The Canucks alumni won the game 6–3. Volpatti scored three times for the winning side, Higgins added two goals, and Cliff Ronning scored the other Canucks tally.
Coyotes alumni scoring came from Tyler Leibel, Dylan Hood, and Kyle Thompson.
The event was organized by Justin Styffe, the new Coyotes owner and an alumni who played for the Coyotes side. Styffe said the presence of the Canucks and entertainment from pregame activities helped make the alumni game engaging for hockey fans.
Several former NHL players with Osoyoos ties were part of the Canucks alumni group. Neil Eisenhut, an Osoyoos product and Coyotes graduate, played 13 games for Vancouver during the team’s 1993–94 season, and his Canucks jersey remains displayed at the Sun Bowl Arena alongside Chuck Kobasew and Mitchell Fritz.
Other Canucks participants included Cliff Ronning from the 1994 team and Volpatti and Chris Higgins from the 2011 team. Kyle Wellwood, who played for Vancouver in the two seasons before 2011, also took part.
The Sun Bowl Classic also included pregame festivities, including a street hockey game in the arena’s parking lot and a hot-stove interview session with Canucks alumni members involving Owen Elson of the Jungle Hockey Podcast.
Proceeds from the event benefitted the Rotary Club of Osoyoos, South Okanagan Minor Hockey, and the Sun Bowl Skating Club.
← More stories