The Medicine Hat Cubs needed an extra game but they’re off to the second round of playoffs.
In Strathmore Monday, the Alberta junior B hockey championship hosts earned a narrow 2-1 win over the Wheatland Kings to win the best-of-five series 3-1.
Cooper Hilworth’s goal with 6:41 to play was the deciding marker in Game 4 according to the Cubs’ Twitter account, as no official statistics were available from the Heritage Junior Hockey League by press time.
Spencer Chapman also scored for Medicine Hat, while Braden Tanner responded for Strathmore according to the Kings’ social media accounts.
The Kings had forced Game 4 by winning 6-4 Sunday at the Kinplex. It was their first win against the Cubs in 11 tries, including a first-round series loss last year.
In that game, Strathmore scored the first three goals and got 32 saves from Brett Wilan. The Cubs got as close as 4-3 in the third period but couldn’t net the equalizer. Noah Irvine, Desmond Crawford and Mason Fischer scored and Logan Leroux made 19 saves in the loss.
With key players including captain Tavin Stadnicki and goalie Dawsen Savage expected to return from injury for the South Division semifinals, Medicine Hat will look to keep its run going and avoid a long layoff before hosting provincials in April.
Next up is the Cochrane Generals, who earned a first-round bye by beating Medicine Hat in the final two games of the regular season. The Generals also get home ice advantage in the best-of-seven series, which is expected to start Friday or Saturday in Cochrane.
