Golden Suns set tryout dates

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

Fall is right around the corner, and hockey will soon be the talk of the town yet again. With the 2025-26 season fast approaching, all four Taber Golden Suns ‘AA’ teams will be hitting the ice to set their teams for the Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL). 

U11

U11 tryouts are set to begin at the end of the month, beginning on Aug. 25 and Aug. 26 with ice times running from 7:15-9:15 p.m. The third ice time goes on Aug. 28 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Association fees for the year are $1,200, and that includes two hours of practice ice per week, along with a goalie coach for on-ice training and game evaluation. The U11s will also see a former NHL coach mentor providing on-ice skill development and game evaluation, a Golden Suns bag, practice jerseys, and one tournament entry fee.

Last year was the first season for U11 ‘AA’ and the Suns finished with a 15-9 record in the South Yellow Conference. They were eliminated in the South Yellow semi-final by the Lethbridge Hurricanes, who would go on to win the South Division Championship. The Hurricanes would also win the Provincial tournament and become the first-ever U11 champions.

U13

The U13s see their tryouts begin on Sept. 2 and Sept. 4 with ice time from 6-8:15 p.m. The third ice goes on Sept. 6 from 11:15 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Association fees are $3,750 for the 25-26 season and this includes 2.25 hours of practice ice per week, an hour of dryland training each week, a goalie coach for on-ice training and game evaluation, and a former NHL coach mentor providing on ice skill development and game evaluation. Players also receive a Golden Suns bag, pant shells, practice jerseys, a track suit and dryland shirt/shorts, one tournament entry fee, and team bussing to most away games.

The U13 Golden Suns finished with a 15-17 record in the South Division, which was good for third place. In the regional round-robin playoff tournament, they went 3-1. They were eliminated in the South Division semi-final by Medicine Hat. Red Deer would defeat Medicine Hat in the South Conference Championship, but they would fall to the West Central Tigers in the Provincial final.

U15

Ice times for U15 tryouts begin on Sept. 3 and Sept. 5 from 7:15-8:15 p.m. The final ice time goes on Sept. 6 from 2:45-5 p.m. Association fees are $3,750, and all perks are the same as the U13 team. 

Last season, the U15 Golden Suns went 3-25 in the regular season and 0-4 in the regional round-robin playoff. Okotoks would defeat the Central Alberta Selects in the South Division Championship, and CBHAH would win the Provincial gold medal. 

U18

The U18s see a bit of a different start to their tryouts in 2025. Starting the week of Sept. 2, the U18s will see a coach-hosted conditioning camp. Evaluators won’t be present at the conditioning sessions, and they go on Sept. 3 and Sept. 5 from 8:30-9:30 p.m. and Sept. 6 from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Ice times start on Sept. 9 and Sept. 11 from 8:15-9:15 p.m. and then Sept. 13 from 5:15-7:45 p.m. 

Association fees are $3,750, and all perks are the same as the U13 and U15 teams. 

It was a rough 24-25 season for the U18s as they went 2-31 in the regular season and 0-4 in the round-robin playoff. Olds defeated Foothills in the South Conference Championship, while Strathcona were Provincial champions.