Golden Suns see playoffs begin

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Taber Times

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

It was another busy Elite Alberta Hockey League weekend as Taber teams were in action. While the U11s and U15s were playing in playoffs, the U13s and U18s were finishing off their regular season schedules. 

U11

The U11 team saw playoffs begin as they took on the Okotoks Oilers in their first-round matchup. Game 1 went on Friday night in Taber and the Golden Suns were all business as they cruised to a 7-1 win. Nash Dyck and Paxton Foote each scored three and had three assists, while Blake Bryan scored once, and Korbin Rodwell, Tommy Palaschak, and Boone Depew all had one assist. Rem Jardine was solid between the pipes with 20 saves on 21 shots.

Looking to secure a birth in the semi-finals, the Suns looked to win the best-of-three series on the road on Saturday. Once again, Taber scored early and often as they secured a 12-2 win. Dyck had another hat trick and four assists, Justice Luther scored once and added four assists, Depew had a hat trick and two assists, Mason Emelson all scored three times, Jayce Antal and Heston Honess had two assists each, Bryan had one goal, and Rodwell, Asher Skretting, Bentley Dyck, and Dacen Knoblich all had an assist in the win. Tove Morgan was the starting netminder and collected the win with a 14-save performance.

The Suns now set their focus on the semi-finals where they will take on the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The Canes had a bye in round one after finishing first with a 24-0 record.

U13

It was a two-game weekend for the U13s as they finished off their AEHL regular season with a pair of road games. Saturday saw the Suns take on the Central Albert Selects which resulted in a great back-and-forth battle. When the final buzzer sounded, the Suns had collected a 4-3 win. Shawn Mrowil had a goal and an assist, Travis Jackson had two assists, Boston Constant, Callaghan Tjeerdema, and Eli Robb all scored, and Wylie Campbell and Cooper Lutz notched an assist each. Drew Tame took to the crease and made 32 saves on 35 shots. Sunday’s game saw the Suns take on the Olds Grizzlys and Taber wrapped up the regular season in fashion with a 9-2 victory. Lutz scored a hat trick for Taber while Jackson had two goals and an assist, Robb had three assists, Blaze Wenzel and Declan Okell scored twice, Holden Emelson had two assists, and Mrowil and Deacon Webb had an assist each. Nash Stober made 28 saves on 30 shots in net for the win.

The U13s now prepare for their regional round-robin playoffs this coming weekend in Medicine Hat. It all kicks off on March 6 with a pair of games against Okotoks and Wheatland. On Friday, they play East Kootenay and then wrap up the round-robin with a game against Foothills.

U15

The U15s saw their South Division playoff round-robin begin this past weekend in Strathmore. First action was on Thursday when they took on the Wheatland Warriors. The Suns stumbled out of the gate with a 6-0 loss. Jack Lukacs made 14 saves on 18 shots while Ashton Jensen had 12 stops on 14.

Looking to rebound, the Suns took to the ice on Friday when they matched up against the East Kootenay Avalanche. Despite taking a 2-0 lead in the second, the Suns spotted the Aves three straight in the third as East Kootenay won 3-2. Tony King had a goal and an assist, Paxton Powell scored the other Taber goal, and Cole Bouchard had an assist. Lukacs was back in net and made 35 saves on 38 shots.

Saturday saw a pair of games for the Suns as they took on Okotoks to begin the day. Once again Taber jumped out to a 2-0 lead before allowing three straight as they fell 3-2 for the second straight game. Bril Haraga had both goals and Ryland Span collected an assist. Jensen made 39 saves on 42 shots in the Taber net.

The Suns wrapped up their season with a game against the Foothills Bisons later in the day. In another low-scoring game, the Suns were unable to find a win as they lost 3-1. King had the lone Taber goal while Span and Haraga had the assists. Jensen made 14 saves on 14 shots as Lukacs came in midway through the second and made 29 saves on 31 shots.

Okotoks beat Wheatland in the South Division final and they will play the Central Alberta Selects in the South Conference Championship.

U18

It was a one-game weekend for the U18s as they played in their final regular season game. In a road game against the Bow Valley Timberwolves, the Suns were steamrolled 8-0. Dakota Hurst made 26 saves on 33 shots while Dagrin Bahr-Hemsing came in and gave the Suns 17 saves on 18 shots.

At the end of the regular season, the U18s finished in last place in the South Division with a 2-31-1 record and five points. They scored 55 goals while allowing 222 across 34 games.

The Suns are now preparing for the South Division regional round-robin. Thursday kicks off with a game against the Okotoks Oilers at 9 a.m. filled by a Foothills Bisons matchup at 4 p.m. On Friday, the U18s play East Kootenay at 11:45 a.m. The round-robin finishes with a Saturday afternoon game against the Medicine Hat Hounds.