NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Cubs forward Callen Prosofsky loads up for a shot in the first period of their 8-2 win Sunday against the High River Flyers at the Kinplex.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Cubs continue to get the wins they’re supposed to and even the ones they’re not supposed to.
The Cubs are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games coming off a weekend of wins. They handed the first-place Okotoks Bisons their second loss of the year with a 5-4 road win Saturday before beating the High River Flyers 8-2 on Sunday at the Kinplex.
Head coach and general manager Randy Wong says it was important for the Cubs to get both wins on the weekend and not give in.
“It’s just really learning how to win, so you can’t take any team for granted and that’s the message we’ve tried to hit home with,” Wong said. “They understand that let’s not give up a point when you don’t need to. They were disappointed in the Airdrie game when we gave up that point, we didn’t think they were as strong as us. But we weren’t at our best, so that’s what it is. They’re learning right and looking at our last 15 games, we’ve been pretty solid.”
The Cubs sit in third place of the HJHL’s Southern division with a record of 14-4-3 for 31 points. They trail the second-place Cochrane Generals by two points while holding two games in hand. Saturday’s win against Okotoks, who eliminated the Cubs in Game 6 of the semifinals last season, is one they will build off for the rest of the season, Wong says.
“We gave up a few softies to start the game, guys were saying some good things on the bench and I don’t think they felt that they were out of it,” Wong said. “Then we got rolling in the second period, we actually tied the game fairly quickly, then it was a good back and forth game thereafter. When I look at it, we didn’t get a regular season win against them last year, so we’re kind of one up there. We know they’re a tough team and we believe we are a top team. It was a good game between arguably the top two teams in the league. And we came out on top of that game.”
Connor Miller, Callen Prosofsky, Kyle Woolridge and Jamal Shaw scored four answered for the Cubs in the second period against Okotoks to put them ahead 4-3. The Bisons tied it up in the frame but it was Caleb Garrecht’s early third period goal that put the Cubs ahead. Mark Peddle started the game with nine saves before Kaiden Morin took over and stopped all but one of the 26 shots he faced.
In Sunday’s win the Cubs jumped ahead early and held on for the win with six unanswered goals between the second and third period. Levi Schlosser and Prosofsky each had two goals, Garrecht had a goal and three assists, Cooper Hilworth notched a goal and an assist and Woolridge and Josh Drefs each added a goal of their own. Morin made 19 saves in the win.
The Cubs have four more games on their schedule before the Christmas break, including an 8:15 p.m. home contest Friday against the Coaldale Copperheads before heading to High River on Sunday for a rematch with the Flyers. They’ll face High River again on Dec. 17 before hosting the Cochrane Generals on Dec. 18. Wong says the upcoming stretch will be important as they look to take momentum into the Holidays.
“You really have to finish this calendar year off really on a high, if you can get those wins right before Christmas, they can be hit and miss wherever emotions are,” Wong said. “Guys want to get home for Christmas break, so you hope you can keep your guys more focused than the other team and that’s really how those last couple games go. So we hope we can get those wins and take a good break and get ready for the new year.”
Editors note: Lede edited for clarity.
