By Matt Nemeth

Cubs clinch playoff berth with 4-2 win over Okotoks

Jan 29, 2017 | 9:36 PM

Medicine Hat, AB – Dan Maier made 44 saves and Ryan Fauth had a three point night as Medicine Hat beat Okotoks 4-2 at the Kinplex Sunday to clinch an HJHL playoff berth.

Okotoks started off the scoring with a power play marker near the midway point of the opening frame, but an unassisted goal by Fauth tied things up before the first intermission.

The Bisons, who sit second in the south, would retake the lead less than 2 minutes into the second period before the Cubs answered back with two consecutive goals from Alex Duclos and Matt Clement. Fauth had helpers on both tallies.

In the third Brandon Stahl gave Medicine Hat some breathing room with his 9th of the year, and a two goal cushion would be plenty for Maier as he shut the door on Okotoks the rest of the way.

“The boys were making it pretty easy for me clearing the front of the net and getting rebounds out,” the 6’4 netminder said following the game.

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The win coupled with a Three Hills loss ensures the Cubs will be playing postseason hockey, and given the club’s struggles last year it was a sweet moment when the final horn sounded Sunday.

“It’s good to finally get something after all the hard work, be rewarded for it,” says Maier.

The contest against Okotoks marked the final home game of the regular season for Medicine Hat. The team has two games left and they next hit the ice Saturday in Banff against the Bears, who sit just one point ahead of them in the south.