The Medicine Hat Cubs on the blueline prior to HJHL action. (Photo From Facebook/Medicine Hat Cubs)

By Jacob Varcoe

Cubs gearing up for deep playoff run

Feb 10, 2023 | 3:24 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat Cubs are preparing for another playoff run, with hopes of going all the way this season.

With two games remaining in the regular season, the junior B Cubs have secured second place in the Southern Division with the second-highest point total in the Heritage Junior Hockey League.

Medicine Hat owns a 26-7-3 record through 36 games played with just two remaining in the regular season. They’ll play a pair of weekend games to close out the regular season prior to the playoffs.

Along with a clinched playoff spot, the Cubs have earned a first-round bye in the playoffs.

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“That was one of our goals at the start of the year,” said Cubs head coach and GM Randy Wong on Friday.

“If you don’t need to play it, I’m all about having the guys rest and get ready for round two. We pushed hard for that.”

They’ve earned wins in three straight games and eight of their last 10. During that stretch, the Cubs have outscored their opponents 62-34 with a goals differential of plus 28.

“That momentum is huge, you don’t want to get to any bad habits, you want to make sure you’re doing all the little things right, it’s important for our guys,” said Wong.

“We want to be ahead of the Northern Division as well, should we get through the Southern Division we want that home-ice advantage in the league final.”

Currently, the Cubs are two points ahead of the Sylvan Lake Wranglers from the Northern Division. Winning both games this weekend would ensure Medicine Hat home-ice throughout the entirety of the playoffs and into the finals.

In their weekend games, Medicine Hat will take on the Mountainview Colts at home on Saturday. Then they’ll face off against the Strathmore Wheatland Kings on Sunday at Strathmore Family Centre Arena.

With an exception of the 2020-21 season, when the team didn’t participate due to COVID-19, the Cubs have made five consecutive playoff appearances. They lost to the Okotoks Bisons in the semi-finals last year.