Suns finish up regular season as playoffs loom in SCAHL

Posted on February 29, 2024 by Taber Times

By Garrett Simmons
For Taber Times

T

he regular season is winding down for the Golden Suns teams in the South Central Alberta Hockey League.
Taber’s U13 team has one game remaining – a March 1 game against the Lethbridge Hurricanes at 6:45 p.m. at the Logan Boulet Arena.

This past Saturday, the Suns traveled to Olds, and came back home after a 6-0 loss to the Grizzlys.

Olds scored twice in the first and kept the pedal to the metal the rest of the way to cruise to victory. Drew Tame made 33 saves in the contest, as the loss dropped the team to 7-24-2 on the season.

The U15 team began weekend play Saturday with a 4-3 loss in Cochrane against the Bow Valley Timberwolves.

Taber trailed 2-0 before Nixen Miller made it 2-1 with a goal assisted by Bril Haraga. It was a shorthanded tally with only 13 seconds left in the second.

Miller then tied it with another shorthanded goal in the third, assisted by Heston Hansen. Liam Okell made it 302 Taber, as Miller and Foster Weatherhead drew the assists.

But Bow Valley would not be denied, as the Timberwolves scored two late goals in the third to steal a one-goal victory.

Dakota Hurst was in goal for the Suns, and made 41 saves.

On Sunday, the Suns dropped a 4-2 decision to the Medicine Hat Tigers.

After a scoreless 20, the Tigers opened the scoring in the middle frame before Weatherhead tied things up on a goal assisted by Okell and Canaan Fleck.

Medicine Hat opened things up and took a 3-1 lead but once again, Taber responded, as Ryker Orsten converted a Tony King feed to make it 3-2 after 40 minutes.

That was as close as Taber would get, as a powerplay goal by the Tigers in the third put the game out of reach.

Taber is now 6-20-7 on the season.

In U18 play, the Suns dropped a 4-1 decision Friday against the Wheatland Chiefs.

Taber opened the scoring with a Chase Stronge goal, assisted by Landon Howg and Connor Chapman. Wheatland tied it midway through the period and then added one goal in the second and two more in the third.

Keegan Stenger made 39 saves in net for the Suns.

On Sunday, Taber fell 6-5 to Medicine Hat, as the Hounds used two third-period goals to steal the win.

Chapman opened the scoring for the Suns on a goal assisted by Jett Matisho. The Hat tied it up before Howg scored to make it 2-1 late in the first. Conrad Mehlhaff and Landon McEwen had the assists.

Two Suns powerplay goals helped Taber gain a 4-1 lead, as Dalton Damen opened the period with a goal assisted by Howg. Howg then scored his own goal with the man advantage, assisted by Chapman.

The Hounds scored three straight to make it 4-4 before Chapman scored again with 19 seconds left in the second to make it 5-4.

Medicine Hat came out strong in the third and scored twice to steal the win, as the Hounds held the Suns to only five third-period shots.

Kahil Wright was in goal for the Suns and made 26 saves.

Taber’s record is now 13-19-2.