NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Cubs forward Josh Drefs keeps his eye on the puck while absorbing a hit in the first period of the Cubs 3-2 loss against the Okotoks Bisons Tuesday night in Game 4 of their best-of-seven series.
The Medicine Hat Cubs held the Okotoks Bisons at bay for 40 minutes Tuesday night but it wasn’t enough to extend their season.
The Cubs led 2-0 after two periods at the Kinplex before the Bisons scored three unanswered to win Game 4 3-2 and sweep Medicine Hat 4-0 in the Heritage Junior Hockey League South Finals.
Head coach Randy Wong says it was the Bisons who capitalized in the right moments in the third period.
“We got our two goals but we didn’t get the third one, had we gotten the third one we probably carry momentum through and win the game,” Wong said. “But you’re stuck at two and we had some power plays that we didn’t capitalize on. So we had the opportunity and that’s on us.”
Medicine Hat came into Tuesday’s game off a 5-2 loss on Sunday in Game 3, also at the Kinplex.
The Cubs opened the scoring 9:23 into the first period with a goal from Connor Douglas. Caleb Garrecht and Callen Prosofsky had the assists on Douglas’ third of the playoffs and the only offence of the frame. Okotoks outshot Medicine Hat 10-8 in the frame.
Medicine Hat carried the offence into the second with Cooper Hilworth scoring his eighth of the postseason with 3:58 left in the frame. Okotoks once again led in shots, 9-8.
The Bisons finally found a crack in the Cubs armour as Scott Brown scored 2:21 into the final frame. Just 5:24 later, while on a power play, Okotoks’ Jaevon Buschlen scored his fifth of the playoffs to tie the game up at 2-2.
With the period winding down and the Cubs on the power play, it was Okotoks putting an end to the series. Alaister Standen scored shorthanded with 3:22 left in the game for the eventual winning score of 3-2.
Mark Peddle was in net for the Cubs and had 32 saves on the night. Across the ice from him, Dylan Fries made 22 saves for his fourth win of the series and seventh in the postseason.
See Thursday’s Medicine Hat News for a detailed story on the Game 4 loss and a playoff wrap-up.
