Hounds heating up

By Ryan McCracken on March 9, 2018.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

The Medicine Hat Hounds are heating up at the perfect time.

While the Hounds closed out the bantam South Central Alberta Hockey League regular season at 10-20-4 to take the fifth seed as hosts of this weekend’s South Conference playoff tournament, they’ve been one of the hottest teams in the province after going 7-3-3 down the stretch — and they carried that momentum into the post-season with a 4-1 upset over the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Thursday at the Kinplex.

“I think we’ve all come together as a team and started working together. It’s just all coming together,” said Hat captain Jack Vose, whose Hounds are now 1-0 at the playoff tournament after defeating Lethbridge (17-10-7) for the first time this season. “It’s amazing. I can’t describe it.”

After building up a 2-0 lead through 20 minutes on goals from Matthew MacPherson and Evan Gebhart, the Hounds picked up where they left off in the second —hemming Lethbridge into their own end with some relentless pressure. Jody Rath cashed in on the momentum midway through the frame to build up a three-goal lead.

“I think our start was better,” said Vose, who logged an assist in the win. “We just got pucks deep.”

While Lethbridge finally pushed back in the dying minutes of the second when Joseph Boser beat Hat netminder Bodee Weiss on a shot from the point, Medicine Hat’s defence prevailed in the third.

Lethbridge pushed back with some sustained pressure in the Hounds end but they were unable to sneak another puck past Weiss and Medicine Hat’s Josh Drefs put the game away on a shorthanded breakaway with six minutes left.

Weiss collected the victory with a 23-save performance. Lethbridge goaltender Aiden Low stopped 28 in the loss.

The Hounds continue the playoff tournament this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. against the Okotoks Oilers (18-12-5) before closing out round robin play Saturday against the Foothills Bisons (23-8-3) at 11:45 a.m.

In other tournament action, the Oilers opened up their tournament with a 3-0 win over the Wheatland Warriors and Foothills beat the Taber Golden Suns 6-4.

The semifinals are set for Sunday, with first place in the round robin taking on fourth at 10 a.m. and second facing off against third at 10:15 a.m. at Kinplex 1 and 2, respectively. The South Conference championship game is set for Sunday at 4 p.m.

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