Photo courtesy of Scott Roblin

By Scott Roblin

HJHL Hockey

Cubs decimate upstart Rams, climb up HJHL South standings

Oct 14, 2019 | 6:30 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – From special teams to offensive firepower, there are some days where everything seems to fall into place perfectly.

That was just the case for the Medicine Hat Cubs on Sunday afternoon, wrapping up their weekend with a dominant 7-1 victory over the visiting Rocky Rams.

“It’s not every night you can put up seven goals,” said rookie forward Ethan Machan. “Especially coming off last time at home with only one goal against Coaldale, it’s nice to break the floodgates at home.”

Tavin Stadnicki’s power play goal just over a minute into the game set the stage for the Cubs, who had no issues generating offence with 47 shots spread out over three periods.

The Cubs were able to finish off a three-point weekend with the victory, coming less than 24 hours after a 3-2 overtime loss to the Cochrane Generals.

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Even though Stadnicki was able to come back Sunday from his suspension earned the week prior, both Tavin Straub (suspension) and leading scorer Chandler Aleman (family leave) were not available to play.

“We’re short due to some personal things and some suspensions and injuries,” said co-head coach J.D. Gaetan. “Going in short the last two games, the guys stepped up that were here and were able to take a three-point week, which we’re happy with.”

Fletcher Aleman made it a 2-1 game heading into the first period, which set the stage for Medicine Hat’s offence to take over in the middle frame.

Noah Irvine scored on a penalty shot on the power play midway through the second, with his goal followed up by Jamal Kalaf and Stadnicki.

Mackenzie Fritzler and Machan added goals in the third period for good measure, giving the Cubs their first victory in three games.

“We had a couple of guys get their first goals in the league which was nice,” said Gaetan. “The last couple of games scoring has come from one or two lines, it’s nice to see it a little more spread out.”

Machan was one of those players scoring their first goal at the junior level, finishing off a two-on-one rush with just over two minutes remaining in regulation.

“Hopefully it’s one of more to come,” said Machan. “It’s nice to just get the monkey off my back and get on the board. First few games didn’t really get the bounces, but great pass from Klimosko comes over and it’s nice.”

Playing five games so far for the Cubs, Machan is easily one of the youngest players in the Heritage Junior Hockey League at 16 years old after wrapping up his minor hockey career with the SEAC Minor Midget Tigers.

Gaetan said the youngster had a breakout weekend and looks like he belongs at the junior level.

“He had a really strong weekend,” he said. “It’s a tough league to come into as a 16-year-old, but he’s putting in the work. He put up a great weekend, the work is showing, he’s getting lots of chances, and he’s finally able to bury one which is great to see.”

The 3-2-1 Cubs have earned points in four of their last five games, getting off to their best start in years.

“Last year it was a little bit later in the season where we got that chemistry and kind of went on a little bit of a run,” said Gaetan. “It’s nice to have it early. [Sunday] was a nice win to start a seven-game home stand and set the tone for that.”

Sunday’s victory has put the Cubs alone in fourth place in the HJHL Southern Division with seven points, three behind both Coaldale and Cochrane for second spot.

Machan said it’s still early in the season, but the Cubs are hungry to hang with some of the top clubs in the south such as the Copperheads, Generals, and undefeated Okotoks Bisons.

“We know we’re going to have to play with them at some point,” he said. “So, we may as well get going early, get up there. It’s just nice to get the ball rolling I guess.”

Playing out the rest of October at the Kinplex, the Cubs will see the Sylvan Lake Wranglers and Ponoka Stampeders make stops in the ‘Gas City’ on Saturday and Sunday.

Early season confidence is running through the dressing room and has players like Fritzler ready to make the jump into the Southern Division’s top echelon.

“It’s big for confidence,” said Fritzler. “Also for the rookies, it shows that we’re going somewhere. We have a team that can go and we’re going to be top-three this year guaranteed.”