Cubs give back in final two games before playoffs

By JAMES TUBB on February 5, 2022.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

The Medicine Hat Cubs are looking forward to the playoffs but have a few stops on the way.

Saturday night they host the High River Flyers for an 8:15 p.m. contest before welcoming the Strathmore Wheatland Kings Sunday at 2:45 p.m. for their final regular season game before the HJHL’s playoffs get started.

Cubs head coach and general manager Randy Wong said they’re feeling good heading into the weekend and are anxious to get into the post-season.

“We know that it’s the last couple games of regular season until the new season starts, the more important one, with playoff hockey coming around the corner,” Wong said. “I think guys want to finish up and get playoffs going, they are hungry for some playoff hockey.”

The Cubs take a 23-8-3 record into the weekend that has them comfortably in second place of the Southern Division, which would earn them a bye through the first round. Wong says they approach this weekend as their last chance to work on some things like their power play ahead of playoff matchups.

He says his focus will be on re-evaluating mistakes in their final two games.

“I know there is always turnovers in each game but minimizing our mistakes, executing the way you are supposed to, capitalizing when you have power play chances,” Wong said. “Because that’s going to win or lose you some hockey games in the playoffs. Special teams are really important. Guys just have to be focused on that and that the attention to detail is there and they are focused and ready to play.”

Wong said he will be dressing his full lineup this weekend as guys have an internal race for the scoring lead that he says is good for the team.

“It’s small little battles that teams do internally and I think there’s enough guys there that want to out-do their teammates and I think that’s fun competition within the team.”

He said the Cubs are just excited to fill the Kinplex for the playoffs and get back into post-season action after not having any last season.

The final two games Wong said not only let them gear up for the playoffs but lets them give appreciation to their sponsors and fans. He said they’ve given out extra tickets to sponsors, and they are giving back to community Saturday by collecting boxes of cereal to donate to the Root Cellar for half-priced admission. They have something special up their sleeves for the first intermission in Sunday’s game as well.

Wong says it’s all part of being a junior hockey program in a city like Medicine Hat.

“We don’t operate without sponsors and fans, the two biggest things that generate revenue for our hockey club,” Wong said. “…Exposure in the community is important that we give back, it can’t be always a take and ask sponsors for money. But we can do our part in giving back to the community this weekend in the form of cereal, that will go a long way to help the Cellar out. That’s part of running a junior program and we’re happy to do it.”

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