Golden Suns set on “AA” hockey season

TIMES FILE PHOTO

By Greg Price
Taber Times
gprice@tabertimes.com

Midget “AA” Golden Suns (17-5-7) had a tough time in its playoff tournament, skating to a 0-3-1 record in Lethbridge.

Midget Golden Suns started off with a 7-3 loss to Medicine Hat Hounds (24-15-1) last Thursday afternoon. Dallas Bodnar, Seth McCulloch and Jayden Kostiuk scored for the Suns. Logan Leroux and Ethan Barrows faced a combined 33 shots on net in the loss.

Friday afternoon’s game was a 9-4 loss to Lethbridge Hurricane Hounds (28-8-4). McCulloch potted the hat trick and James Halverson had a single. Ryden Rempel had two assists. Leroux and Barrows faced a combined 44 shots on net.
The midget “AA” Golden Suns’ tie came against Wheatland Chiefs (22-12-5) in a 1-1 contest on Saturday afternoon.

Kostiuk scored for the Suns. Barrows had a solid game in net, facing 32 shots on goal for the tie. Golden Suns ended its tournament run with a 5-1 loss to the Hounds on Sunday morning. Cole Jensen scored for the Suns. Barrows faced 38 shots on net in the loss.

PEEWEE: Taber peewee “AA” Golden Suns (5-29-3) had a busy week with its SCAHL playoffs on the road, registering a 0-3-1 record in Chestermere for the playoff tournament. Last Thursday’s contest was a 9-1 loss to Lethbridge Hurricanes White (22-12-4). Kobe Fujita scored the lone Suns tally.

Marek Schlenker took the loss in net, facing 41 shots on goal. The Suns were able to skate to a 5-5 draw with Lethbridge Hurricanes Red (28-6-5) on Friday afternoon. Aidyn Law tallied twice and Ty Fraser, Bowman Klippenstein and Wyatt Bishop had singles. Kade Duell had two assists. Kahil Wright was able to preserve the tie for the Golden Suns, facing 45 shots on net. Saturday’s morning’s tilt was an 11-1 loss at the hands of Medicine Hat Hounds (37-0-2).

Law scored the Suns’ goal. Wright and Schlenker faced a combined 55 shots on goal. The peewee Golden Suns ended its playoff tournament run with a 4-3 loss to Okotoks Oilers Green (18-14-6).

Kolten Walburger, Kaden Pahl and Ryan Holm scored for the Golden Suns. Schlenker faced 29 shots on goal in the loss in net.

BANTAM: Taber bantam Golden Suns registered (7-30-1)a 1-3 record at its road playoff tournament this past week. Last Thursday’s tilt was a 6-4 loss at the hands of Foothills Bisons (25-10-3). John VandenElzen, Braeden Sheppard, Caden Heins and Nathan Verloop scored for the Suns. Ty Young took the loss in net, facing 49 shots on goal.

Friday afternoon’s game was a 4-1 Suns victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes (17-13-7) as the Suns had four unanswered goals.

Heins potted the hat trick and Carter DeBoer had a single. John VandenElzen drew three assists. Young earned the win in net, facing 31 shots on goal.

Saturday and Sunday’s tilts were both against Okotoks Oilers (21-13-5) and were 6-3 and 4-3 losses respectively.
Saturday’s game had Carson Cleland scoring twice and Sheppard once. Griffin McCulloch had two assists.