Big weekend for Taber Golden Suns

Posted on December 5, 2024 by Taber Times

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

The hockey season is moving quickly towards the Christmas break and several Taber Golden Suns teams were looking to add points this past weekend during Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL) action.

U11

It was an off weekend from AEHL games for the U11 squad. The team returns to the regular season with a pair of home games on Dec. 14 and 15 against the Medicine Hat Hounds and Okotoks Oilers.

U13

It was a one-game weekend for the U13 Suns as they hit the road to take on the Wheatland Braves. Saturday saw the Suns start off strong as Boston Constant scored unassisted to open the game. The Braves would tie it around five minutes later and the two teams would cease scoring as it went tied 1-1 into the second.

Once again, Taber scored first after 16:30 of play as Shawn Mrowil found the back of the net with Travis Jackson drawing the assist. The home team would answer back 23 seconds later and the game was tied again heading into the final frame.

Jackson would spot Taber another lead as Mrowil had the assist. But the Braves battled back again and tied the game. Neither side was able to find a game-winner and things ended tied 3-3. Drew Tame was solid in net for Taber as the netminder made 25 saves on 28 shots.

The U13s now prepare for a home game on Sunday when they welcome in the Foothills Bisons. Puck drop is set for 1 p.m. at the Taber Arena.

U15

For the U15 Suns, it was another two-game weekend as they looked to continue strong play into December. On Friday night, they were on the road to Lethbridge as they took on the Hurricanes. The Suns outshot Lethbridge 48-41 but were shutout 2-0. Ashton Jensen made 39 saves in the Suns’ net.

Sunday was another road game, this time the Suns were outshot 53-26 and dropped the game 3-0. Jensen was back between the pipes and made 50 stops.

This weekend sees a home game for the Suns as they welcome in the Airdrie Lightning on Saturday. Puck drop is at 5:15 p.m.

U18

It was another busy weekend for the U18 Suns as they looked to improve on their record. On Friday night, the Suns saw the Foothills Bisons come to town. After a scoreless first period, the floodgates would open in the second as the Bisons scored three straight. Late in the period, Heston Hansen would get Taber on the board as Foster Weatherhead and Tage Jensen had the assists. Hansen would score another a few minutes later as Weatherhead and Jensen added another assist each.

With Taber down one heading into the third, the visitors would score four straight to take it 7-2. Dagrin Bahr-Hemsing got the start in net for Taber, making 39 saves on 46 shots.

The weekend finished off with a Sunday matinee on the road against the Lethbridge Hounds. Despite allowing the first goal, the Suns would answer back quickly as Ryder Van Buskirk got Taber on the board with a powerplay marker. Blake Smith and Weatherhead were credited with the assists.

It was a scoreless second period, but Nathan Rijkens would give Taber their first lead of the game near the midway part of the third. Smith added another assist. Despite a late goal by Lethbridge to tie the game, the Suns would score the game-winner with 59 seconds left to play thanks to a goal from Weatherhead. Hansen had the lone assist on the final Taber goal. Dakota Hurst was the starter for Taber and he made 39 saves on 41 shots.

Another two games come this weekend for the U18s as they host Medicine Hat on Friday and Foothills on Saturday. Game one goes at 8:15 p.m. while Saturday’s game is at 8 p.m.