NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Cubs goaltender Kellen Bojic keeps his eye on the puck after making a save in the second period of a 9-0 Game 6 win over the Cochrane Generals on Saturday in Cochrane.
The Medicine Hat Cubs scored early and often to win their semifinals series Saturday.
The Cubs beat the Cochrane Generals 9-0 on the road to win their series 4-2 and punch their ticket to the South division finals where they’ll face the Okotoks Bisons.
Head coach Randy Wong says they didn’t expect the bloated win but was happy with his teams effort.
”We just shut the door and made sure they weren’t going to get anything on us,” Wong said. “We knew our offence, it’s always been there all series.”
Saturday’s game was delayed over an hour as the Cubs bus broke down outside of the city while heading to Cochrane. They arrived 30 minutes before warmups.
Kellen Bojic made 24 saves for the shutout victory to clinch the series. He says he felt his best in the second period of the game.
“When we were down five-on-three, I was able to keep the team in the game a little bit, that was the moment I felt most dialled in,” Bojic said.
The Cubs opened the scoring 13:38 into the first period with Cooper Hilworth’s first of four goals on the night. Jacob Milne had the assist.
Hilworth, who led the league in scoring during the regular season, was happy to contribute in the clinching game.
”I felt like I was pretty slow at the start of the playoffs after having the year I did,” Hilworth said. “So for me to step up, I felt great and I hope I can carry it into the Okotoks series.”
They added two more goals in a span on a minute as as Milne and Connor Douglas both found the back of the net.
A Callen Prosofsky goal 20 seconds into the second period gave the Cubs the early momentum in that period. Hilworth found twine while short handed before Caleb Garrecht scored on a Medifice Hat power play as they led 6-0 after 40 minutes.
Hilworth got hats to fly early in the third period before scoring his fourth of the game while short handed. Garrecht rounded out the scoring with his second of the game for the 9-0 final.
The Cubs have a few days off before their quarter-finals series against Okotoks is set to get underway, the starting date is yet to be announced.
See Tuesday’s Medicine Hat News for a more in-depth story on Saturday’s win and preview on the Okotoks series.
