Hockey tourney to honor local legend

By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot

The Stumptown Ice Den will host a tournament this weekend in honor of a local hockey-lover, Monty Huntington, who died last May at age 47.

The first-ever "Monty Tourn-ament" will accomplish three goals, according to rink manager Andy Hergesheimer — raise money for area youth hockey, honor Huntington's memory, and provide an exciting weekend of fun for players and fans.

"It's going to be a blast," Hergesheimer said. "It will be a casual hockey atmosphere in remembrance of a good guy. It's co-rec, a mixed bag of players. We're going to have raffles and giveaways, and we're hoping to raise $1,000 for the Glacier Hockey Association for youth scholarships."

Huntington was a Whitefish resident who could always be seen down at the rink, Hergesheimer said.

He died in a work-related accident in Kalispell, and local hockey players decided a fun tournament was the best way to honor his memory.

"He was just one of those fabulous people that everybody loved," Hergesheimer said with a laugh. "He was definitely a rink-rat. He was always down here."

Huntington and his wife Debbie moved to the Flathead Valley in 1999, where he was employed with T-Bend Construction as a blacktopper. Besides hockey, he loved bird hunting, skydiving and telemark skiing.

"He would work all summer and then play hockey and become a ski bum in the winter," Hergesheimer said.

Hergesheimer said he consulted with Huntington's wife and other locals about the idea of a weekend of games.

"If you knew Monty, he would be all for this," Hergesheimer said. "He would say, 'Let's get some kegs and throw a hockey tournament.'"

Along with his wife, Hunt-ing-ton is survived by three children, two twin grandchildren, a brother, a sister and his parents.

Opening ceremonies for the tournament will take place Friday at 7:30 p.m.

"We're going to hoist (Huntington's) jersey from the rafters, and Monty's family will be there from Minnesota," Hergesheimer said. "His dad is in his 80s and he used to skate. I'm going to get him out there for a penalty shot against a goalkeeper."

The tournament will feature eight teams consisting mostly of locals. Huntington's brother will travel to White-fish to play, as will several players from Canada and Missoula.

Hergesheimer said he has made up several quirky rules to keep things interesting.

"Each roster has to have two women, two over-50 players, three players from skill level B and three players from level A," he said. "Level A players will have to play the second period with their stick upside down, and level A goalkeepers can't have a stick in the second period. It will be cool because husbands will be playing with wives, sons with fathers and that sort of thing."

The tournament will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday night, with games running all day Saturday and a championship game Sunday morning.

For more information, call the Stumptown Ice Den at 863-2477. All games are free and open to the public.