NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN
Medicine Hat Cubs centre Mackenzie Fritzler battles for a faceoff with Devyn Stewart (28) of the Okotoks Bisons during the first period of Sunday's Heritage Junior Hockey League game at the Kinplex.
Medicine Hat News
The Medicine Hat Travelodge Cubs shook off a four-goal deficit and clawed their way back to a 5-4 shootout win over the Okotoks Bisons on Sunday afternoon at the Kinplex.
Cooper Hilworth started the road back late in the second period, Noah Irvine added another tally early in the third, then Mackenzie Fritzler potted a pair to tilt the ice firmly in Medicine Hat’s favour heading into overtime.
While sudden death solved nothing, Cubs backup Martyn Clift stopped Austin O’Bray, Nicholas Murrell and Jason Horn in the shootout to open the door for Noah Irvine’s game-winner.
Tyler Bordt put the Bisons up 1-0 after 20 minutes then Brandt Black scored twice in the second and Devyn Stewart added another before the Cubs finally pushed back.
Vanderveer was relieved after allowing four goals on 28 shots, then Clift entered and stopped 22 to lock up the victory and push the Cubs to 5-7-2 on the Heritage Junior Hockey League season.
Bisons goaltender Nicholas Ewanchuk left the net after stopping 19-of-20 through 40 minutes, then backup Matthew Baba allowed three goals on 15 shots to take the loss — dropping Okotoks to 11-2-2.
The Cubs hit the road to High River Friday to face off against the Flyers.