Cubs clinch first division title since 2002 with weekend split

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on January 27, 2026.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

The Medicine Hat Cubs are division champions for the first time in 20-plus years.

The Cubs’ split weekend helped them clinch the South division, their first South division title since the 2001-02 season, their debut season in the HJHL. They lost 7-2 Saturday to the North division leading Red Deer Vipers (25-7-2) before they beat the Ponoka Stampeders (1-34) by a score of 9-1 on Sunday.

Randen Collier and Mason Osinski both scored in Saturday’s loss, Marlo DeRosa made 32 saves.

Captain Kyle Woolridge led the offence in the blowout-win Sunday, tallying four goals. Connor Chapman had two goals with an assist, Josiah Jackson had a goal and two assists, and both Nolen Sutherland and Jacob Hazzard found the back of the net. Kayne Wright made 12 saves in the win.

Woolridge’s four-game effort Sunday has him atop the HJHL in goals with 32, he sits second in points with 57 in 34 games.

The Cubs (23-8-3) have a pair of home games this week, the last two regular season contests. They host the Okotoks Bisons (17-15-2) on Friday (7:30 p.m.) and the Mountainview Colts (24-9) on Sunday (3 p.m.), both games at the Kinplex.

Woolridge will enter the weekend on the verge of two franchise records. Friday’s game will be his 146th in the HJHL, a new team record for games played, passing former captain Callen Prosofsky who he is tied with at 145.

The Cubs’ captain sits 11 points back of Kyle Funk for the franchise record in career points at 232.