Suns compete over Thanksgiving weekend

Times Photo by Meg Noguchi. BACK ON THE ICE: The U18 Taber Golden Suns played against CBHA Rangers at the Taber Ice Arena on Oct. 11.

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

The Elite Alberta Hockey League (AEHL) rolled into Thanksgiving weekend, and several Taber Golden Suns teams were in action.

U13

It was a single-game weekend for the U13 Suns as they looked for their first win in October. After a 0-1-1 weekend to begin the month, the Suns lined up against the Dolman Dental Central Alberta Selects at home on Sunday afternoon. The Selects would score the lone goal in the first period and then extend their lead to 2-0 early in the second. Levi Hanf would get Taber on the board late as Lincoln Braun and Burke Williams drew the assists. Unfortunately, that would be as close as they would get as the Selects netted an empty net goal to take the game 3-1. Dylan Volk started in net for Taber and was solid with 19 saves on 21 shots.

This coming weekend sees the U13s on the road for a pair of games. Friday evening sees the Suns take on the Lethbridge Hurricanes, while Saturday is a game against the Foothills Bisons.

U15

The U15 Suns were on the road Saturday for their only game this weekend as they were also looking for their first W of the month. Facing the Airdrie Lightning, the Suns would fall down early as they went down 3-0 quickly in the first. Nash Skanderup would cut the lead to two a few minutes before the break as Deacon Webb drew the assist. Midway through the second, Taber would find another goal, this time off Cohen Kleisinger’s stick with Ryder Nault drawing the lone assist. Before the period ended, Airdrie would add another and take a 4-2 lead into the final frame. The third was all Lightning as they outscored Taber 4-1 en route to an 8-3 victory. Rudy Wojszel had the lone Taber goal in the period, and it was assisted by Kleisinger. Talen Sarathlal made 25 saves on 30 shots while Drew Tame stopped 11 on 14 shots.

Two more road games come this weekend for the U15s as they head to Medicine Hat on Saturday night to take on the Hounds. On Sunday, the Suns face off against the Okotoks Oilers.

U18

Two games were on tap for the U18 Suns as they looked to add two more wins to their total. On Saturday, the Suns welcome in the CBHA Rangers. The teams would trade goals back-and-forth throughout the entire game, but it was the Rangers who potted a pair of late goals to take it 6-5. Loki Thacker led the way with two goals and an assist, while Grayson Biegel had a goal and an assist, and Chase Stronge had a pair of assists. Foster Weatherhead and Blake Smith each found the back of the net, and Jasper Sidam, Hunter Simpson, and Landon McEwen all had an assist. Dakota Hurst was tested in net with four shots, and he made 34 saves.

Sunday was a road game against the Okotoks Oilers that ended in a 5-1 defeat for Taber. Nixen Miller scored the Taber goal as Simpson and Weatherhead had the assists. Jack Lukacs made 24 saves on 29 shots in the Taber net.

Two more games come this weekend as the U18s prepare for a road trip. On Saturday, they take on the Foothills Bisons. Sunday’s game is in Calgary as they face off against CNHA Gold.