PHOTO COURTESY MEDICINE HAT CUBS/ELLIE BRADFORD
The Medicine Hat Cubs handed out their season awards for the 2024-25 season. Head coach Randy Wong and assistant coach Johnny Stehr (right) pose with forward Kyle Woolridge during the awards ceremony on March 21.
sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews
The Medicine Hat Cubs officially put a bow on the 2024-25 season.
The Cubs handed out their season awards in a ceremony held March 21, recognizing their top contributors in the regular season and playoffs. After a 26-10-2 regular season saw them finish third in the HJHL’s southern division, earning a first-round bye, the Cubs faced the Strathmore Wheatland Kings in the second-round of the playoffs.
They beat Strathmore in four games in a best-of-five series, setting up a third-round series with the Okotoks Bisons for the fourth time in five years. After winning the first game of the series in overtime the Cubs dropped three straight to Okotok,s who then lost 3-1 in the league finals to the Sylvan Lake Wranglers.
Cubs forward Nolen Sutherland was named rookie of the year after tallying 22 goals and 47 points in 32 regular season games. He added another three goals and 10 points in eight playoff games.
Defenceman Everett Liefso was named the most improved Cub, he had three goals and four points in 25 games. He suited up in all eight playoff games.
Captain Callen Prosofsky was named the most dedicated player and best defensive forward in his overage season. Prosofsky had 20 goals and 41 points in 38 regular season games, adding two goals and three points in eight playoff games. He surpassed the Cubs’ franchise record for games played with 145 across four seasons.
Caleb Garrecht was named the Cubs’ scholastic and sportsmanship player of the year, his second in the HJHL with the orange and black. Garrecht was second in team and league scoring with 22 goals and 71 points in 38 games, taking just four penalty minutes. He had four goals and 10 points in the playoffs.
Jesse Klimosko was named the unsung hero of the season, finishing his year with seven goals and 14 points in 35 games. He had a goal and four points in the playoffs.
The Cubs named Austin Derzaph their best defenceman of the season, he tallied a goal and 22 points in 29 games in his rookie season in the HJHL. Derzaph had six assists in the playoffs.
Cubs forward Kyle Woolridge cleaned up at awards night, named the team MVP, playoff MVP and leading scorer after a season that saw him finish second in the HJHL MVP race.
Woolridge led the HJHL in scoring with 49 goals and 79 points in 38 games, often double-teamed by the opposition on a nightly basis. In the playoffs he continued to lead the way for the Cubs with nine goals and 13 points in their eight playoff games.
