Golden Suns begin 2025-26 season

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Taber Times

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

October is here, and that means the hockey season has officially begun. Several Taber ‘AA’ Golden Suns teams were in action this past weekend to start the Elite Alberta Hockey League (AEHL) regular season.

U11

The U11 season for Taber begins on Oct. 18 when they lineup against the Red Deer Chiefs White at home at 12:45 p.m. On Oct. 19, they hit the road for a date against the Wheatland Warriors. Puck drop is set for 1 p.m.

U13

The U13 Suns saw their season start on Sept. 27 when they welcomed the Foothills Bisons. All the scoring would happen in the first two periods, but it was the Bisons who were able to notch a 3-2 win. Peyton Honess and Lincoln Braun scored the Taber goals while Cole Di-Loreto, Ben Souter, and Jackson Wiest had an assist each.

The U13 Suns continued their regular season campaign this past weekend with a pair of games. Saturday saw the team open the season with a home game against the West Central Tigers. The Suns would fall behind 8-0 In the first two periods, they were never able to fully recover as they dropped the home opener 9-3. Levi Hanf, Wiest, and Mason Emelson had the Taber goals while Burke Williams and Ben Wojszel had an assist each. Dylan Volk made the start between the pipes and had 16 saves on 25 shots.

Looking for redemption on Sunday, the Suns were on the road to Strathmore to take on the Wheatland Warriors. In a back-and-forth game, the Suns would open the scoring before falling behind 2-1 before the intermission. The middle frame was all Suns as they scored three unanswered. Despite the lead, the Warriors battled back with two goals, including a last-second tying goal and the game ended 4-4. Hanf, Wiest, Wojszel, and Souter scored goals while Justin Siemens, Williams, and Holden Emelson all recorded a single assist. Lance Leusink made the start and had 20 saves on 24 shots for Taber.

Thanksgiving weekend sees one game on tap for the U13s as they welcome in the Dolman Dental Central Alberta Selects on Sunday for a 10:30 a.m. game.

U15

The U15 Suns officially started their regular season the last weekend of September with a pair of games. On Sept. 27, the Suns welcomed in the West Central Tigers. The opening game of the season wasn’t a kind one for the U15 squad as they fell 9-2. Travis Jackson scored the first goal with Cohen Kleisinger and Cale Ste-Croix drawing the assists. Rudy Wojszel scored the second Taber goal unassisted.

It was a two-game road trip this past weekend for the U15 Suns. Saturday saw the team travel for a game against the Lacombe Ford Central Alberta Selects. The Selects would take a lead in the first and never relent as they cruised to a 6-1 victory. Hudson Stenger had the lone Taber goal that was assisted by Kash Kover. Drew Tame was the starting goalie for Taber and made 41 saves on 47 shots.

Sunday’s game saw the team in Red Deer take on the Steel Kings Chiefs. This time, Taber would open the scoring thanks to a Kleisinger goal assisted by Blaze Wenzel. Red Deer would score four straight unanswered goals, though and take the game 4-1. Both Taber goals would be scored in the game, as Talen Sarathlal would make 26 saves on 28 shots, while Tame had 16 stops on 18 shots.

One game comes this weekend for the U15 Suns as they’re back on the road to take on the Airdrie Lightning. Puck drop is set for 2:15 p.m. on Oct. 18.

2025-26 U15 Golden Suns roster

Ryder Nielsen

Hudson Stenger

Travis Jackson

Deacon Webb

Grayson Honess

Kash Kover

Rudy Wojszel

Austin Odland

Cohen Kleisinger

Dallas Alberts

Blaze Wenzel

Jace Irwin

Barrett Devlieger

Ryder Nault

Cole Swanson

Cale Ste-Croix

Everett Kisst

Nash Skanderup

Lars Maxwell-Lyster

Drew Tame

Talen Sarathlal

Coaching staff: Jayden Bexte, Ryan Colby, Chase Honess

U18

The end of September saw the U18 Suns start their season. On Sept. 27, the Suns hosted the Lethbridge Hounds in their home opener. Both teams would fill the net, but Taber was able to skate away with a 7-5 win to open the year. Nixen Miller had a hat trick and an assist to lead the way, while Chase Stronge scored and added two assists, and Lincoln Weiss had three assists. Heston Hansen, Liam Okell, and Blake Smith all scored, and Foster Weatherhead and Raiden Koizumi had an assist in the win. Jack Lukacs collected the win in net with 37 saves on 42 shots.

The following day saw the Suns back at home as they took on the West Central Tigers. Once again, the Suns were able to battle their way to a win — this time 4-3. Miller, Stronge, and Hunter Simpson each had a goal and an assist, Weatherhead found the back of the net, and Lincoln Weiss added an assist. Dakota Hurst was solid between the pipes with a 30-save performance.

The U18 Suns were back this weekend with a pair of home games as they looked for a 4-0 start. First up was a Saturday game against the Airdrie Lightning. The teams would trade goals back-and-forth all three periods, but neither was able to find a game-winner as it ended tied 3-3. Weatherhead notched a pair of assists while Hansen, Loki Thacker, and Miller scored the goals. Weiss, Simpson, and Okell contributed with an assist each. Lukacs was back in the net and made 24 saves on 27 shots.

The weekend wrapped up with a visit from CRAA Gold. Despite firing 37 goals on net, the Suns were unable to find a goal as they lost 2-0. Hurst was tested tons in the game as the netminder made 46 saves on 48 shots.

The U18 Suns are back in action this weekend with another two games. On Oct. 11, they host CBHA Rangers at 5:30 p.m. On Sunday, they hit the road as they take on the Okotoks Oilers at 4 p.m.

2025-26 U18 Golden Suns roster

Jasper Sidam

Heston Hansen

Raiden Koizumi

Foster Weatherhead

Loki Thacker

Hunter Simpson

Chase Stronge

Landon McEwen

Liam Okell

Blake Smith

Nixen Miller

Grayson Biegel

Madix Miller

Blaise Odland

Lincoln Weiss

Ryler Kiss

Dakota Hurst

Jack Lukacs

Coaching staff: Lynn Degenstein, Carson Beers, Bruce Bell, Chase Bell, Tristan Stensrud