Oil Kings gear up for a busy December

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

December is here and Taber Oil Kings teams are looking to add points before the Central Alberta Hockey League (CAHL) Christmas break.

U11

The U11 Oil Kings found themselves in a shootout on Sunday when they matched up against Brooks Blue. Goals came fast and furious for both sides, but Brooks was able to secure a 15-9 victory at home. Nash Funk led the way for Taber with five goals and an assist. Lucas Bowman, Seth Denny, Dreyton Kinniburgh, and Madden Nakamura all scored one, and Finnley Olson and Mya Braun added an assist each. Boston Bassett started in net and made 20 saves on 35 shots.

The U11 Oil Kings return this coming weekend for another single game. On Sunday, they welcome Brooks Red for a 3:30 p.m. game.

U13 Tier 3

It was an off weekend from CAHL action for the U13 Tier 3 team. They regroup this weekend for a pair of home games against Okotoks and Magrath. Puck drop on Saturday goes at 5:15 p.m. while Sunday is at 3:30 p.m.

U13 Tier 4

The Tier 4 U13s were also off this past weekend from CAHL and they get back on the ice on Sunday. The Oil Kings are on the road to take on Brooks at 11 a.m.

U15

Two games were on tap for the U15 Oil Kings as they had a pair of road games. Saturday, the team headed to Medicine Hat to kick off the weekend. The game was all Taber from the get-go as the Oil Kings cruised to a 10-4 victory. Ethan Volk scored five goals and added an assist, Lincoln Wiebe scored a goal and had three assists, Kellon Schalk had a goal and two assists, Ryder Nielsen and Kash Kover each had a goal and an assist, Cooper Broderson had two assists, Blake Untereiner scored once, and Jenner Workman Dallin Langhofer-Krahn, and Jaxson Badura all found the scoresheet with an assist. Brodyn Sutka was solid in between the pipes with a 37-save performance.

On Sunday, the team headed back out east, this time to face off against Irvine. The Oil Kings fell behind early and couldn’t quite catch up as they fell 8-3. Volk scored two of the three goals, Wiebe had two assists, Kover scored once, and Untereiner and Nielsen had an assist each. Sutka made 48 saves on 56 shots in the Taber net.

The U15s have an off weekend from CAHL and they are back to it on Dec. 22 when they host Foremost.

U18

Only one game was on the U18 schedule this past weekend as they were on the road to take on Foothills Blue. Thanks to a five-goal second period and four-goal third, the Oil Kings skated to a 9-3 victory. Kayden Kress scored four and added an assist, Jasper Sidam had a pair of goals and an assist, Jude Tams had a goal and an assist, Samuel Klaas and Blake Rabusic each had two assists, Ayden Umbach and Evan Untereiner had a goal each, and Carter Kerkhoff had an assist. Ty Dorin made 20 saves on 23 shots in the Taber crease.

Next up for the U18 Oil Kings is a two-game weekend to close out the 2024 portion of their CAHL schedule. On Saturday, they see Picture Butte come to town for an 8 p.m. puck drop. Sunday is a road game against Brooks Blue with puck drop at 3:30 p.m.