Golden Suns teams preparing for SCAHL playoffs

Posted on February 26, 2024 by Taber Times

By Garrett Simmons
For Taber Times

The regular season is winding down for teams in the South Central Alberta Hockey League.

Only a few games remain before the playoffs, as teams jockey for position.

Taber’s U13 Golden Suns picked up a big win on Sunday, by a 5-2 score over the Okotoks Oilers, thanks to a big three-goal second period. The teams were tied at two after 20 minutes, before the Suns took over.

Okotoks actually led 2-0 before Hayden Eldridge made it 2-1 on a goal assisted Cole Bouchard and Lincoln Deleeuw. Nash Skanderup scored to tie it at two, as Hudson Stenger and Travis Jackson drew the assists.

The second period was all Suns, as Marcus Schwartz opened the scoring with a goal assisted by Travis Jackson. Eldridge’s unassisted goal put Taber up 4-2, before Lincoln Deleeuw scored on the powerplay to end the scoring.

Drew Tame made 23 saves in goal to pick up the win.

In the U15 division, the Suns had a tough game on Saturday and dropped an 8-0 decision to the Wheatland Warriors on the road.

Griffin Stenger was in goal for Taber and turned aside 72 shots in the contest, as Wheatland topped the 30-shot mark in both the second and third periods.

Sunday featured a much more competitive game, as the Suns battled to a 2-2 draw with the Central Alberta Selects.

Back in Taber, the Suns battled back twice, as the Selects led 1-0 after 20 minutes. Foster Weatherhead tied the game in the second on a goal set up by Liam Okell and Madix Miller.

Taber trailed 2-1 after 40 minutes, before Okell tied the game in the third, as Weatherhead and Canaan Fleck drew the assists.

Dakota Hurst was in goal for the Suns. The goaltender turned aside 38 shots to preserve the tie.

The U18 Golden Suns dropped a 6-1 decision on Saturday at home against the Okotoks Oilers.  Okotoks led 3-0 after 20 minutes and never looked back. Taber did make it 3-1 with a goal early in the second period off the stick of Jett Matisho, but that was the only offence Taber could muster.

Keegan Stenger fought off 50 Okotoks shots in the contest, as the goaltender kept the Suns in the game.

On Sunday, the Suns fell 2-1 in a tight contest against Airdrie.

It was 1-0 Airdrie after two periods before Dalton Damen tied things up in the third, as Berkley Emelson drew the assist.

Airdrie scored the game winner midway through the period.

Kahil Wright made 36 saves in goal for the Suns.

The U18 team has two games left in the regular season, as Taber will face the Wheatland Chiefs on Friday and the Medicine Hat Hounds on Sunday.