First-place Cubs wrap 2025 hosting division games this weekend

By JAMES TUBB on December 19, 2025.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

The Medicine Hat Cubs get to end their calendar year on home ice.

The Cubs host a pair of games this weekend at the Kinplex for their last two games before the HJHL’s Holiday break. They host a pair of divisional rivals, the Coaldale Copperheads tonight and the Okotoks Bisons on Saturday, looking to lengthen their gap atop the South division and extend their 10-game win streak.

Going into the holidays on a winning note would set them up well for the new year, head coach Trent Derzaph says.

“Just build a little bigger gap between our rivals, it’s absolutely huge,” Derzaph said. “Just that positivity with the group as we slowly start to ramp up for playoffs towards the end of the last part of the season, it’ll be huge.”

The Cubs sit atop the South division with a 17-6-1 record, five points ahead of second place Strathmore Wheatland Kings (15-9-1) with a game in hand. They’re also five points up on the Copperheads and Bisons who have the same record of 14-9-2.

Since losing their first game against Coaldale, the Cubs have rebounded to win the next three matchups, outscoring the Copperheads 17-6, including a shutout win.

“They’re a heavy team and they play us hard,” Derzaph said. “I would say they play us harder than any other team in the league just because it’s just down the highway.”

The Cubs have lost the first two meetings with Okotoks, having played them at the Kinplex. Derzaph is looking forward to getting to face them at the Kinplex and head into the holidays in front of their fans.

“The fans pump up our team and we pump up the fans, I don’t want to say we play better at home but our fans sure help,” Derzaph said.

He says they can’t think about the idea of taking a 12-game win streak into the Holidays, he’s looking for them to continue the shift-by-shift focus that’s brought them their success.

“Take it one game at a time here, really one shift at a time and win the battle this weekend and have a nice, relaxing break,” Derzaph said. “One game at a time, really both teams coming to town are tough teams. That’s all we can do is take it one at a time and work as hard as we can.”

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