Golden Suns back on the ice during Thanksgiving weekend

Posted on October 12, 2023 by Taber Times

By Cole Parkinson
For Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

All three Taber Golden Suns were back on the ice this past weekend as the South Central Alberta Hockey League saw its season continue.

U13

Looking for their first win on the season, the U13 Suns were on the road this weekend for a pair of road games. First up was a matchup against the Bow Valley Timberwolves on Friday night.

The first period saw the teams trade goals and the game would head into the second period tied at 2-2. Ben Van Der Linde and Hudson Stenger had the Taber goals while Hayden Eldridge also collected an assist.

The second was another high-scoring affair but this time the Golden Suns had the upper hand as they scored three and took a 5-3 lead into the final frame. Travis Jackson, Marcus Schwartz, and Lincoln Deleeuw were the goal scorers as Jaxton Roderick and Dax Hill found the scoresheet with an assist each.

While the Timberwolves would cut the lead to one early in the third, the Suns were able to fend off any further comeback as they took the game 5-4. Drew Tame took to the crease for Taber and the goalie was stellar as he posted 51 saves on 55 shots.

With one win in the book, the U13 Suns looked to make it a perfect weekend on Saturday when they were back on the road to take on the Central Alberta Selects. Jude Klingenberg would make it an early 1-0 lead for Taber in the first period but the home team would answer with three unanswered before the end of the first period. While the Selects held a 3-1 lead heading into the second period, neither team was able to add any more offence in the middle frame.

In the third, it was all Selects as the home team outscored the Suns 4-1 as they took home a 7-2 win. Schwartz scored his second goal of the weekend as Stenger added another assist. Cale Campbell got the start for the Suns in net, making 34 saves on 41 shots.

The Suns currently sit in fifth place in the South Conference with a 1-4 record.

U15

It was a two-pack of games this past weekend for the U15 Golden Suns as they hosted the Foothills Bisons and the West Central Tigers.

Saturday saw the Bisons come to town for a low-scoring affair. Neither team was able to score in the first but the second saw Foothills take a 2-0 lead early in the second. Later in the period, Nixen Miller would cut the lead to one as Madix Miller had the assist. The third was another low-scoring period as the Bisons would put the nail in the coffin late in the third as they skated to a 3-1 win. Griffin Stenger was between the pipes for Taber as the goalie made 34 saves on 37 shots.

Sunday afternoon saw a matchup between the Suns and Tigers. West Central would take a 1-0 lead in the first and carry that into the second. Tony King would score late for the Suns as Ryker Orsten and Paxton Powell collected an assist and the teams would be deadlocked at 1-1 heading into the final period. The Tigers would score the lone goal in the third en route to a 2-1 win. Dakota Hurst got the start in net and made 36 saves on 38 shots.

The Suns currently sit in sixth place with a 0-4 record in the South Conference.

U18

The U18 Golden Suns were also on the ice for a pair of games this past weekend. On Friday night, the Lethbridge Hurricanes came to town to start the weekend. The Suns were on fire to start the game as they scored two and took a 2-0 lead into the middle frame. Connor Chapman and Evan Koizumi had the goals while Landon Howg, Conrad Mehlhaff, Tyler Kiss, and Tage Jensen had an assist each.

The Suns continued to roll in the second as they added another two goals as they headed into the third with a 4-0 lead. Chapman and Landon Howg had a goal and an assist while Dalton Damon and Berkley Emerson also chipped in with an assist. The Suns were able to battle hard in the third and skate to a 5-2 win. Howg added another goal while Chapman and Keegan Stenger had the assists. Stenger was the starting netminder, making 34 saves on 36 shots.

The Suns then hit the road on Sunday to take on the Okotoks Oilers. The teams would score one goal apiece in the first as Chapman continued his scoring streak while Jett Matisho had the assist.

The second saw the Oilers come out on fire as they scored four straight before Chapman scored his second of the game with Mathisho and Jensen had the assists. The period would end and the home team took a 5-2 lead into the third period.

The Oilers would add another two in the second en route to a 7-3 victory. Hunter Simpson would add the lone Taber goal in the period as Hayden Smith and Chase Stronge had the assists. Kahil Wright would make 26 saves on 30 shits while Stenger had 22 saves on 25 shots.

The U18 Suns are currently in third place in the South Division with a 2-2 record.