Cubs memorial game for former players set for Sunday

By James Tubb on December 1, 2021.

jtubb@medicinehatnews,com

Twitter: ReporterTubb

The Medicine Hat Cubs are asking for support as they reflect and remember.

The Cubs take on the Red Deer Vipers on Sunday in a memorial game for three former players who passed away from suicide last year. Head coach Randy Wong says it’s a game he’s been thinking about for awhile.

“They were players that I knew as they were growing up as young kids and were part of my hockey program, so certainly there is a bit of an attachment there,” Wong said. “I know the families, so it’s a little bit difficult but we are excited and honoured to host it.”

There will be a pre-game tribute for the former players that will involve family members at centre ice. The Cubs extended invites to former teammates of the three players from the 2003-’04 season, who will be in attendance.

Wong says he hopes the game brings awareness to the stigma around mental health. 

“We know that it’s an issue that Medicine Hat was hit hard with mental health issues and these young players are part of that,” Wong said. “We hope we have a full house and we can do our part in making awareness to mental health and moving on from that.”

Canadian Mental Health will be in attendance with a booth in the lobby, and will have informative material for anyone to reach out if they need.

The Cubs have made mental health awareness an organizational focus this season. They put on a mental health seminar during the second day of training camp and held a tailgate barbecue to raise money for the Canadian Mental Health Association before their home opener.

“The biggest thing is we are going to bring awareness to mental health, we are not going to be afraid to talk about it and we are there to help those who need it and we are making sure that Canadian Mental Health is the foremost in this,” Wong said.

Medicine Hat will be donning special jerseys sponsored by Trimount Construction, which will be auctioned off after the game. All proceeds from those auctions will go to Canadian Mental Health. 

Wong wouldn’t give any details but said they have a unique jersey they will also be auctioning off, which he hopes raises a significant amount for CMHA.

The Cubs will also have a draw, sponsored by Inland Concrete, for any fan over 18 to shoot a puck and have a shot at winning $10,000.

He said his players are looking forward to the game because they want to do their part.

The Cubs head into the memorial game having collected three points in two contests last weekend. They beat the Kainai Junior Braves 14-1 on Saturday before falling 5-4 to the Okotoks Bisons in overtime on Sunday. 

Jacob Milne led Saturday’s offence with six goals and two assists, while Callen Prosofsky had three goals and six assists, Conner Douglas had seven helpers, Levi Schlosser had two goals and an assist, Conner Miller had two of each and Colby Friedrich added a goal and four assists. Layne Gilroy picked up the win with a 19-save performance.

Douglas added another goal and an assist Sunday, while Milne, Schlosser and Cooper Hilworth added goals of their own to help force overtime against the Heritage Junior Hockey League’s top team in Okotoks, but Adam Kirkpatrick scored in overtime to end the game. Dawsen Savage stopped 33 shots in the loss. 

Wong said he sees positives in the loss to Okotoks as the Cubs trail them in the standings.

“I was happy with our grit, we battled hard, competed hard,” Wong said. “I think we made some errors in our zone. I don’t think they scored many pretty goals. They throw the puck on net, go to the net and they bounce in. We missed some assignments and I think that’s where we have to correct to beat them, and I think we will do that.”

The Cubs will be on the road Friday to take on the High River Flyers before returning home for the memorial game that gets underway at 5:45 p.m. on Sunday.

Wong thinks the game will be a great one and asks for as many people as possible to come out and support the Cubs as they pay their respects. 

“Canadian Mental Health has been a big issue for the Medicine Hat community and this was, the Cubs family, our way of giving back. So we are looking for that support from the community to come back and we think it is going to be an exciting game. I think the atmosphere is going to be awesome.”

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