Cubs enter HJHL season hungry for more success

By JAMES TUBB on September 22, 2022.

Medicine Hat Cubs head coach and general manager Randy Wong has a simple message heading into the 2022-23 HJHL season – we haven’t achieved anything yet.

The Cubs rattled off 25 wins last season, good for second in the South division and third overall in the league. But after a game 6 loss in the quarter-finals to the eventual champion Okotoks Bisons, there’s more success to be desired by the Jr. B club.

“We didn’t win, we don’t have any trophies or banners to hang, so didn’t get the job done last year,” Wong said. “It’s a new year and we have had to change some things in the lineup to make us a better team. We have to make sure that the team comes together better than it did last year.”

Wong said now that training camp and the preseason is over, the pressure is on the elder players to make sure their new and young teammates buy into the Cubs’ way.

“That’s the responsibility of the older guys in the leadership group to make sure that happens early to give yourself the best chance to have success earlier in the year, which may be important,” Wong said. “In the end, when you’re looking for those extra two points, those early points that you give up because you’re not quite ready, those sometimes come back and bite you in the butt there. So I think our guys know that and we’ll prepare accordingly.”

The Cubs don’t get to ease their way into the season as they host the Bisons for their home opener Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Kinplex before the Red Deer Vipers come to town Sunday for a 3 p.m. contest. Wong said he hopes his team learns from the experience of losing to Okotoks in the playoffs last year and carries that into this season, specifically the opener.

“Whether it’s redemption or just how do we fit this year, early on in the year it’s a good tool to measure by on how that game is played,” Wong said. “We should have more confidence than we did last year. We’re a year older with the older guys and you have to earn your way to victory. We took a small step last year and we’re hoping for better things this year.”

Heading into the season Wong says their team identity will be one they’ve preached for seasons of playing the game the right way and playing with a lot of pace.

“We feel we have good speed on our team and we’ve improved our back end where maybe we were a little bit weaker last year,” Wong said. “The mobility of the guys that we have this year should translate into better games, better plays and better execution. We really want to make sure that the game is played the right way and we play our way, not worrying about what other teams are doing and what they’re trying to do.”

Wong also stressed the importance of the Cubs’ believing in themselves and being able to buy in to the system and roles.

“We can look after our own backyard by doing the little things right and that’s what we stress. I want the guys to believe in each other. I think we learned that last year and so it’s all about team, and our identity is going to be about that,” Wong said. “We’ve got lots of guys we can get in and out of the lineup and we can change the puzzle pieces. We don’t really want our identity to change regardless of who’s in the lineup.”

As they get ready to start the season with two of their first three games at home, Wong said they will be focused on and off the ice on making sure they offer another form of entertainment the Cubs faithful and anyone interested can enjoy.

“Our first game we’ve got a little novice team coming out and we’re going to get our interaction with minor hockey going right away, sooner than we did last year,” Wong said. “The preseason crowds were decent and I think that shows people are talking about the club again, we know that we’re going to provide good entertainment value. The goal is to fill the stands and get people to really buy into the club’s program and what we’re trying to do. I’m excited about all that and being able to offer just another version of entertainment that maybe was lacking over the years.

“Cubs hockey is back and we’re ready to show our stuff.”

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