Suns return to ice for 2026

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

The Christmas break is over, and Taber Golden Suns teams are looking to start 2026 with a bang in the Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL).

U11

A single game came and went for the U11s as they were in Vauxhall on Sunday, playing host to Airdrie. In a back-and-forth game, Taber was unable to score a late-game tying goal as they fell to the Lightning 5-4.  Rhett Schooten scored twice and added an assist, Blake Bryan had a goal and an assist, Carter Wiest scored, and Parker Avison and Bentley Dyck notched an assist each. Remington Jardine made 25 saves on 30 shots in the Taber net.

This coming weekend is a busy one for the Suns as they compete in the U11AA Showcase. On Friday, they take to the ice at 12:45 p.m. to play the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers. Later that day, they take on the Lakeland Panthers at 4:45 p.m. Saturday sees the Suns start with a matchup against the Sylvan Lake Lakers at 7:30 a.m. Later that morning, the Suns take on SSAC ZerOne at 11:15 a.m.

U13

The U13 Suns kicked off 2026 with a pair of games this past weekend. Saturday saw the Suns on the road to take on the Bow Valley Timberwolves. This one was all Taber as they jumped out to an early lead and never relented as it finished 5-0. Jackson Wiest scored twice, Ben Wojszel had a pair of assists, Levi Hanf and Peyton Honess each had a goal and an assist, Ben Souter hit the back of the net, and Dane Beckie and Burke Williams notched an assist. Lance Leusink started between the pipes and collected a 22-save shutout.

To wrap up the weekend, Taber was in Vauxhall Sunday as they took on the Olds Grizzlys. Thanks to a pair of third-period goals, Taber was able to walk away with a 5-4 win. Wojszel led the way with two goals and two assists, Wiest scored again and added two assists, Hanf had a goal and an assist, Justin Siemens had two assists, Lincoln Braun had a goal, and Korbin Rodwell and Williams chipped in with an assist each. Dylan Volk started in net and backstopped Taber with 23 saves on 27 shots.

One game comes this weekend for the U13 Suns as they play host to Medicine Hat in Vauxhall on Saturday. Puck drop is set for 4:30 p.m.

U15

It was a one-game weekend for the U15 Golden Suns as they were on the road to face the Foothills Bisons. The home team came out firing, and Taber was unable to find their game as they fell 8-0. Drew Tame was the starting netminder for the Suns and made 28 saves on 36 shots.

The U15 Suns look for their first win of the New Year this coming weekend. Friday is a home game in Vauxhall as they take on the Airdrie Lightning at 8 p.m. The weekend wraps up with a 2:45 p.m. game in Vauxhall against the Wheatland Warriors on Sunday.

U18

The U18s were back in action this weekend for one game against the Bow Valley Timberwolves. Out in Vauxhall, the two teams battled hard, and the game ended tied 5-5. Heston Hansen notched two assists in the tie while Foster Weatherhead, Lincoln Weiss, Hunter Simpson, Chase Stronge, and Landon McEwen had the goals. Grayson Biegel, Breton Villemaire, Liam Okell, Ryler Kiss, and Nixen Miller all had an assist. Dakota Hurst made the start for Taber and made 37 saves on 42 shots.

This weekend is another one-game weekend for the U18 Suns as they head back out to Vauxhall on Saturday. Puck drop against the East Kootenay Avalanche goes at 1:30 p.m.