NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Cubs defenceman Hayden King looks to settle the puck behind the Rocky Rams' net during a first period power play in Sunday's 5-2 win at the Kinplex.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Cubs kept momentum flowing with a pair of 5-2 wins this weekend.
The Cubs won 5-2 Saturday at Cochrane over the Generals before topping the Rocky Rams on Sunday at the Kinplex by the same score.
It’s a pair of wins that puts the Cubs atop the HJHL standings with a 7-1 record and 14 points, two ahead of North division leader Sylvan Lake Wranglers (6-1) and the second place Okotoks Bisons (6-2).
Head coach Randy Wong says they prioritized a strong start to the season throughout training camp and he hopes they can continue the push.
“The things we did in camp to prepare for early in the year, it was good,” Wong said. “But saying that, you have to maintain that. We have Okotoks coming in next weekend and that’ll be another measuring stick. Was the first game against them a fluke?
“We have to make sure we have the energy level for them, we have to get through High River and then we got them. We’re looking forward to those games, you want those games to see where you match up.”
The Cubs host the High River Flyers on Friday and the Bisons on Saturday at the Kinplex, both 7:30 p.m. starts.
They have a lot to build off, fresh off a pair of wins that displayed offensive and defensive abilities.
Captain Callen Prosofsky led the offence Saturday with a goal and two assists in the win at Cochrane. Kyle Woolridge had two goals, Denyn Smith tallied a goal and an assist and Mason Osinski had a solo marker. Adam Ranger made 28 saves.
In Sunday’s win, Woolridge led the way with a hat trick and an assist for four points. Nolan Sutherland and Caleb Garrecht each had a goal and an assist, and Tyler Wakelam made 15 saves.
The Cubs’ top line of Woolridge, Sutherland and Garrecht has been the offensive straw that stirs the drink in Medicine Hat, combining for 20 of the Cubs 37 goals for. All three are in the top 10 of league scoring, with Woolridge’s 11 goals and 15 points in third.
Wong says the trio leads by example on the ice and allows other lines to have a more defensive role. That defensive responsibility has been on early display in Medicine Hat, as they have not allowed more than two goals through the first eight games of the season.
“I’m a stubborn old defenceman from the past and so defensive hockey, to me, is always more important,” Wong said. “We’re going to score goals, and I always think if you work hard in the defensive zone, offence will come from there. It’s awesome to see that we’ve only given up a max of two goals per game so far.
“We’ve played some good teams that can score goals, so we’ve been good, we’ve been stingy on the defence. But that’s going to win you games down the road, where you can play in those 2-1 games and be successful.”
