Golden Suns back for Thanksgiving weekend schedule

Posted on October 17, 2024 by Taber Times

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

It was a busy weekend for several Taber Golden Suns teams as games continued.

U11

It was another off weekend from Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL) for the U11s but they were in Calgary participating in the 2024 Crowchild Challenge. The Suns would beat the Olds Grizzlys in game one on Friday morning. They followed that up that night with a win over the Bow Valley Timberwolves.

On Saturday, the team lined up against the NW Warriors and was once again able to come away with a victory. In the semi-finals, the team took on the Wheatland Hawks. In a thrilling 5-4 shootout victory, the U11 Golden Suns booked their ticket to the final against the Glenlake Hawks. The finals were another exciting game as the two teams went into overtime, and it was the Suns who were able to take 5-4.

The U11as now prepare for their AEHL opener as they take to the ice this weekend for a doubleheader. On Saturday afternoon, the Central Alberta Selects come to town for a 12:15 p.m. puck drop. The Suns then head out on the road on Sunday as they take on the Medicine Hat Hounds at 12:15 p.m.

U13

It was an off weekend for the U13 Suns as they regrouped this weekend for two games. On Friday night, the Suns take on the Lethbridge Hurricanes out in Vauxhall at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the Suns are on the road to Medicine Hat to take on the Hounds at 2 p.m.

U15

Two games were on tap for the U15 Golden Suns as they searched for their first victory of the 24-25 AEHL campaign. Saturday saw the Foothills Bisons come to Taber for the first game of the weekend. The Bisons would score twice in the first to take a 2-0 lead into the middle frame.

The Bisons would add two more early in the period before Madix Miller got Taber on the board. Nash Skanderup and Ryker Orsten would collect the assists. The Bisons would then answer with two more in quick succession. Right before the period ended, Miller and Paxton Powell would score for Taber to cut the lead to 6-3 before the third. Tony King, Hudson Stenger, Hayden Eldridge, and Julian Woordman all had an assist.

The Suns saw Cole Bouchard score early in the period with Ryland Span drawing the assist. A few minutes later, Jhett Stober would cut the lead to one. Stenger and Eldridge had another assist on the goal. With the net empty, the Bisons would close out the game with a 7-5 win. Jack Lukacs made 13 saves on 15 shots while Brandt L’Hirondelle made 12 saves on 16 shots.

Sunday saw the team hit the road to face off against the Wheatland Warriors. Unfortunately for Taber, it was all Wheatland as they cruised to a 6-0 win. Lukacs was back in net and made 44 saves on 50 shots.

The Suns continue to look for their first win this weekend when they hit the road for two games against the East Kootenay Avalanche. Saturday’s game goes at 5:45 p.m. while Sunday’s starts at 11:15 a.m.

U18

It was a two-game weekend for the U18s as they also were on the hunt for their first win of the season. On Saturday, the team welcomed in the Wheatland Chiefs. The visitors would open the scoring but it was the Suns who took a 2-1 lead into the break as Heston Hansen and Grayson Beigel each found the back of the net. Foster Weatherhead and Nathan Rijkens each had an assist.

Zander Weatherhead would extend the Suns’ lead near the midway mark of the second period with a shorthanded goal assisted by Nixen Miller and Maxx Davis. The second half of the period was all Wheatland though as they scored three straight to take a 4-3 lead.

In the third, neither team was able to find the back of the net, and the game ended 4-3 in favour of the Warriors. Dagrin Bahr-Hemsing made 45 saves on 49 shots in the Taber net.

Sunday saw the CBHA Hawks come to Taber to wrap up the weekend. This one was all Hawks as they took it 6-1. Hunter Simpson had the lone Taber goal and Tage Jensen had the assist. Dakota Hurst made 25 saves on 30 shots while Bahr-Hemsing made 10 saves on 11 shots.

Two more games are on tap this weekend for the Suns as they head to Lethbridge on Saturday to take on the Hurricanes for a 3 p.m. game. On Sunday, the Central Alberta Selects come to Taber for a 1 p.m. game.