NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Cubs forward Conner Douglas picks his target on the Okotoks net in the first period of Game 4 in the Cubs South Finals series against the Bisons. The Cubs trail Okotoks 3-0 in the series entering Tuesday’s contest but won 5-3 to bring the series to 3-1.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com
“You have to start from somewhere.”
That was what Medicine Hat Cubs forward Jacob Milne’s repeated after scoring three goals in the Cubs 5-3 win against the Okotoks Bisons Tuesday night to extend their South Finals series.
“You have to start from somewhere and that’s our starting point, so we go from there now,” Milne said.
The Cubs entered Tuesday’s contest down 3-0 in the series after losing by a score of 3-2 at home Saturday. Tuesday’s win marks the first time in over three seasons the Cubs have beat the Bisons according to head coach and general manager Randy Wong.
He said the win shows a lot of the character the Cubs have.
“I thought the boys battled hard all game, close in the third–probably too close,” Wong said. “But we’ll take the ‘W’ and we’ll move onto Okotoks Friday night.”
Milne said it was big for him getting on the scoresheet with three goals and said that his line produced as they did in the win or go home game. On top of the hat trick, Tuesday was Milne’s birthday. When asked about his offensive night on his birthday, he joked there’s no better way to celebrate the day.
“I don’t think so, it’s a big game for us so I’m happy we came away with the win,” Milne said.
Medicine Hat carried a 3-1 lead into the third period off of Milne’s goals before allowing two straight Okotoks markers to tie it up at 3-3 with 10:35 left in the game.
That’s when Cooper Hilworth turned himself into the hero and scored the game winner with 4:11 left in the game before icing the empty netter with four seconds left to secure the win.
The 20-year-old forward said it was great to finely win a game against Okotoks for the first time in his four seasons with the Cubs.
“For some reason we don’t get puck luck against them and today the puck luck was on our side and the boys were buzzing,” Hilworth said. “Great to win a game finally and we take it back to their barn Friday and hopefully we can play as good as we did today and we can bring it back to Medicine Hat for Game 6.”
Hilworth has led the Cubs offensively in the playoffs with six goals and 11 points in their eighth games of postseason action. Milne is right behind him with seven goals and three assists for 10 points.
Wong said Hilworth and Milne were determined Tuesday night and it showed offensively.
“I don’t think any of those older guys wanted this to be the last game,” Wong said. “We had a couple healthy scratches and they’re mad that they are not in the lineup and I think that that is part of our character, that we have guys that want to be in the lineup and compete for their teammates.”
Dawsen Savage made 32 saves between the pipes for the Cubs as he helped the Cubs maintain their late lead.
With the five goals scored Tuesday night, the Cubs outscored their entire production in the series as they had only mounted four goals in the first three games.
Connor Douglas contributed with three assists and Dylan Trembecki had two helpers of his own in the win. Jamal Shaw and Colby Friedrich rounded out the scoring with one assist each.
After winning to live another day, the Cubs switch their focus to Game 5 in Okotoks, another must win contest.
Wong said the message heading into that game is to bring the same mentality they did Tuesday night.
“It’s going to be a loud crowd, they were the last time and I think we just have to prepare to weather the storm a little bit,” Wong said. “But knowing that we can score goals against them and get 40 shots against them, we just have to have that mindset that we’re playing at home.”
“Hopefully we’re a determined bunch that want to bring another game back to the Kinplex and fill the space up.”
