Medicine Hat Cubs celebrate volunteers, friendship and player achievement at year-end banquet

“But I think we got a good experience this year, I think we have lots of returning guys coming back, I think we’re hungry to try and finish it off next year.”

Cubs’ center Kyle Woolridge remarked that this year’s team was young but has undergone significant development, poised to demonstrate their growth in the coming season.

However, this season Woolridge already demonstrated his skill, earning recognition for most goals, leading scorer and most valuable player at the banquet.

“It’s a good feeling and you really gotta give credit to your teammates,” Woolridge said.

“It’s a team game, you can’t do it by yourself and no matter how many points you get yourself, you just gotta look around the guys around you and how much they helped you.”

Captain Callen Prosofsky also saw some recognition Wednesday for defensive forward of the year and most dedicated player.

“I was expecting Kyle (Woolridge) to kind of clean house tonight and he did just that, but it was definitely nice getting a couple,” Prosofsky said.

Cubs rookie Tyler Wakelam was inspired by leaders like Prosofsky who always showed up to practice and worked hard.

Wakelam received both rookie of the year and a playoff MVP award.

“When you see a guy like that, it really inspires me to do as much as him and you just look around the room and there’s so many other guys doing the same thing so, that’s just the type of culture we have with the team,” Wakelam explained.

The banquet wasn’t just a celebration of players, but also of those behind the scenes.

This included all who volunteered, board members, billet families, parents, sponsors and coaching staff.

“It’s incredible, we can’t say thank you enough. I mean, my mom is in her first year on the board and it’s really kind of an eye-opener as to how much time and effort goes into that sort of stuff,” Prosofsky told CHAT News.

Soon, the Cubs will start honing in on next season and coach Wong expects most of the same players to return next year.

The next official on-ice session for Cubs hockey will be a spring identification camp in May.

But first, Wong and all his players will remove their focus from the hockey world for a while.

“[Hockey’s] always gonna be in the back of your mind, but you gotta be able to kinda turn it off and relax a little bit and take advantage of your short term vacation,” Prosofsky said.

Wakelam told CHAT News that some of the Cubs players are on a ball hockey team for off-season.

Coach Randy Wong is planning a vacation to somewhere sunny and warm, as well as diving into a sport very different from hockey.

“We’re looking forward to some time away and a busy summer of pickleball,” Wong said.

by Lisa Parent

Medicine Hat Cubs celebrate volunteers, friendship and player achievement at year-end banquet

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