CAHL schedule busy for Oil Kings 

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

January is nearly over and Taber Oil Kings teams are still in the thick of the Central Alberta Hockey League season.

U11

The U11 Oil Kings had a single game this past weekend as they welcomed in Brooks Red on Saturday morning. In the end, it was Taber who was able to notch out a 5-3 win on home ice. Nash Funk scored twice for Taber while Dreyton Kinniburgh had a goal and an assist, Lucas Bowman and Madden Nakamura had a goal each, and Aspynn Hart-Jensen, Cole Span, Seth Denny, and Reed Campbell all had an assist. Kohen Ilczynski collected the win in net.

The regular season rolls on this weekend for the U11s, who have a pair of home games. On Saturday morning, Irvine comes to town for a 10:15 a.m. puck drop. Sunday, Brooks Blue comes to town at 10:30 a.m.

U13 Tier 3

Two games came and went for the Tier 3 U13 Oil Kings. First up was a road game as they took on Okotoks Green. Thanks to a three-period third period, Taber was able to beat Okotoks 7-4. Mitchell Kimoto had a five-assist game while Lincoln Braun scored a hat trick, Ryden Baker scored once and added two assists, Logan Rabusic had two goals, Dane Beckie had two assists, Bentley Howg scored a single, and Baron Stang and Jaxson Tychsen had an assist each. Dylan Volk made 28 saves in the Taber net.

Sunday’s matchup against Magrath saw the two teams head out to Vauxhall. In a tight matchup, the two teams tied 2-2. Rabusic had both goals while Kimoto and Samuel Hathaway had the assists. Volk was back in net and made 29 saves on 31 shots.

The Oil Kings Tier 3 U13 team is back on the ice this coming weekend for two more games at home. Saturday’s goes at 2:45 p.m. against the Coaldale Cobras. On Sunday, Okotoks Gold takes to the ice for a game against the Oil Kings at 1 p.m.

U13 Tier 4

It was a one-game weekend for the Tier 4 U13s as they were on the road to take on Irvine. In a lopsided game, Taber fell 8-3. Wyatt Valgardson scored twice while Cage Holcek had the other Taber goal. Aidyn Derksen Arnel made 32 saves on 40 shots in the Oil Kings’ crease.

This coming weekend is a two-gamer for the U13 Tier 4 squad as they have both at home. Saturday’s game at 12:30 p.m. is against Redcliff while Sunday’s puck drop is at 3:30 p.m. against Brooks.

U15

Only one game was on tap for the U15s as they were on the road for a game against Duchess on Friday evening. Despite making it close, Taber was unable to mount a comeback in the third as they fell 7-5. Lincoln Wiebe and Ryder Nielsen had a goal and two assists, Kellon Schalk had a goal and an assist, and Ethan Volk and Kash Kover scored once. Brodyn Sutka was in between the pipes and made 30 saves on 37 shots.

Two games come this weekend for the U15s and it all starts on Friday with a road game at 7:45 p.m. against Redcliff. On Saturday, the Oil Kings come home to take on Lethbridge at 5:15 p.m.

U18

It was an off weekend from CAHL action for the U18s. They return with two games this coming weekend. On Saturday, they lineup against Brooks Blue at home with puck drop at 8 p.m. On Sunday, the team hits the road to play Kainai at 7 p.m.