Cubs open third-round series with OT win

By James Tubb on March 7, 2025.

For the first time in three playoff matchups, the Medicine Hat Cubs have a series lead over the Okotoks Bisons.

The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five, third-round series with the South division leading Bisons after winning Game 1 5-4 in overtime Friday on the road.

Medicine Hat’s Kyle Woolridge scored with 3:44 left in overtime Friday for his second goal and third point of the contest. Nolan Sutherland, who scored the game winner of the Game 4, series clinching win for the Cubs to beat the Strathmore Wheatland Kings 3-1 in the second round. Okotoks beat the Cochrane Generals 3-1 in the second round.

The Bisons opened the scoring late in the first period with Adam Kirkpatrick scoring with 1:33 left in the opening frame.

Okotoks scored three times in the middle frame but the Cubs also found the back of the net, with Mason Osinski and Callan Prosofsky scoring to keep Medicine Hat within two after 40 minutes.

They had all of the offence in the third period as Caleb Garrecht scored 6:21 into the frame to bring them within one. Austin Derzaph and Sutherland had the assists. The Cubs tied the game up at 4-4 with a power play goal from Woolridge. Sutherland and Garrecht had the assists on the marker, tying the game up with 3:38 in the third period.

The Cubs called game in overtime, despite the Bisons outshooting them 5-2 in the extra frame and 50-28 in the game. Tyler Wakelam made 46 saves for his fourth win of the playoffs.

The South division finals series heads to Medicine Hat for Game 2 on Sunday at the Kinplex. Puck drops at 3 p.m.