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CAHL season heading into playoffs

Posted on February 20, 2025 by Taber Times

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

While the U18s finished their Central Alberta Hockey League regular season this past weekend, other Oil Kings teams were preparing for playoffs.

U11

The U11s are preparing to make a run in the Tier 4 Yellow bracket. Their first-round matchup is against Irvine, who finished second in the division with a 13-3 record and 26 points. Their goals for over the season were 167 while only allowing 94.

Taber, meanwhile, finished seventh with a 4-11-1 record. They scored 150 goals this season and allowed 118. Nash Funk was their top scorer with 46 goals and eight assists while Seth Denny notched 23 goals and three assists, and Dreyton Kinniburgh rounded out the top three with 12 goals and seven helpers.

Their netminders this season were Boston Bassett and Kohen Ilczynski. Bassett had a 1-9-2 record and made 225 saves on 319 shots. Ilczynski made nine appearances with a 3-5-1 record and 257 saves on 312 shots.

The schedule for the first round has yet to be posted as of Tuesday morning.

U13 Tier 3

The U13 Tier 3 squad saw their playoffs begin this past weekend when they met up with Magrath for a two-game total goal series. Taber finished with an 8-5-3 record and third place in the division and they took on the last placed Magrath. Friday in Magrath was an all-out battle between the two as neither side was able to find a game-winner as it ended tied at three. Lincoln Braun scored twice, Hudson Ilczynski had a pair of assists, Ryden Baker scored one, and Luca Nielsen had a single assist. Dylan Volk was great in net as the goalie made 31 saves on 34 shots.

In a winner-take-all all game on Saturday, Taber was all business as they doubled up Magrath 10-5. Baker had three goals and three assists in the win, Braun scored twice and added an assist, Mitchell Kimoto and Logan Rabusic each had a goal and two assists, Jaxson Tychsen had three assists, Samuel Hathaway scored two, Baron Stang had a goal and an assist, and Dane Beckie had an assist. Volk was back in net and made 27 saves on 32 shots.

With the first round finished, the Oil Kings saw the start of the second round on Sunday when they hit the road to take on Okotoks Green. Okotoks Green finished in second this year with an 8-4-4 record and 20 points.

Thanks to a big first period, Taber was able to carve out a 5-3 win on the road. Stang and Braun each had a goal and an assist while Rabusic had a pair of assists, and Tychsen, Baker, and Beckie all found the back of the net. Volk was rock solid between the pipes with a 35-save win.

The series continues on Friday night when the two teams meet in Vauxhall at 6 p.m.

U13 Tier 4

It was a first-round matchup against Irvine for the U13 Tier 4 team. Irvine finished two points ahead of Taber this season with 13. The teams met in Irvine on Saturday afternoon and despite scoring two in the final frame, Taber saw Irvine score the game-winner at 6:04 as they took it 3-2. Wyatt Valgardson and Cage Holcek were the goal scorers while Holden Lyon notched an assist. Aidyn Derksen Arnel was the starting netminder with 26 saves on 29 shots.

In a must-win by two, the Oil Kings hosted Irvine in Vauxhall on Sunday afternoon. It was another tight contest that saw Irvine score two in the third en route to a 2-1 victory. Luke Engwer had the lone Taber goal as Valgardson drew the assist.

Irvine now takes on Bow Island in the second round. On the other side, Redcliff faces Brooks.

U15

The U15 squad saw their playoffs begin with a matchup against Medicine Hat (5-9-2). In game one at home, Taber scored three in the third period which was good enough for a 4-3 win. Ryder Nielsen scored one and added two assists, Lincoln Wiebe had two helpers, Ethan Volk, Kash Kover, and Jaxson Badura all scored, and Kellon Schalk, Jenner Workman, and Dallin Langhofer-Krahn all had one assist. Brodyn Sutka collected the win in net with a 24-save performance.

Looking to advance on Sunday with a win or tie, Taber scored two late in the third and the game ended in a 3-3 tie. Workman had two of the Taber goals while Nielsen had the other. Wiebe, Cooper Broderson, and Kover all notched a single assist. Sutka was back in net and the goalie made 31 saves on 34 shots.

Taber now takes on Duchess in the semi-final while Redcliff and Irvine meet on the other side of the bracket.

U18

The U18 Oil Kings saw two final regular season games this past weekend as they took on Brooks Blue and Foothills Blue. Friday night saw the Oil Kings head to Brooks where they were victorious with a 6-2 win. Kayden Kress had a hat trick and an assist, Konnor Wiebe had a goal and an assist, Tate Nakashima and Carter Kerkhoff scored once each, and Jasper Sidam, Evan Untereiner, and Ayden Umbach all had an assist. Avery Remfert was solid in the Taber crease with a 40-save win.

The regular season ended with a home game in Vauxhall on Sunday against Foothills Blue. In a high-octane offensive performance, Taber secured an 8-6 win. Kress scored five times, Kerkhoff and Jude Tams had three assists each, Adelyn Williamson had two assists, Umbach, Wiebe, and Sidam all scored, and Nakashima, Skylar Jensen, Branson DeVlieger, and Maizie Skiba all notched an assist. Ty Dorin was the starting netminder and made 35 saves on 41 shots.

The U18 Oil Kings finished first in their division with a 13-2-1 record and 27 points. They have a bye in the first round and will take on either Picture Butte or High Country in the semi-final.

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