The Medicine Hat Cubs will look to defeat the Cochrane Generals at the Kinplex in game three on Thursday. (Image Credit: Jesse Gill/CHAT News)

By Jesse Gill

Sports

Medicine Hat Cubs are a win away from HJHL Finals

Mar 1, 2026 | 8:42 PM

The Medicine Hat Cubs are one win away from advancing to the Heritage Junior Hockey League Finals after defeating the Cannex Cochrane Generals for the second game in a row.

A 5-3 win on Sunday in Cochrane gives the Cubs a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-five series.

The Generals struck first in game two with forward Nathan Sherrifs getting the home team on the board.

A late powerplay marker would tie things up at one for the Cubs. Forward Ethan Burgeson would find the back of the net with four seconds left in the first, with assists going to Mason Osinski and Austin Derzaph.

The Cubs would then capitalize, scoring on a pair of power plays late in the second.

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The first came at 18:47 when captain Kyle Woolridge scored a goal assisted by Josiah Jackson and Derzaph.

The second was scored by forward Jacob Hazzard at the 19:28 mark, with assists going to Mahki Carrier and Carson Kraft, to put things at 3-1 Cubs after two periods.

Woolridge would get his second of the game, assisted by Burgeson and Osinski at 3:26 into the third to extend the lead to 4-1.

A pair of goals from Generals forward Cole Whelan would make things interesting. The Cubs lead down to 4-3 by the 18:22 mark of the third.

Forward Jesse Klimosko would seal it for the Cubs, shooting it nearly the length of the ice and hitting the empty net at the 19:04 mark after getting a pass from Blake Girard.

The Cubs’ power play remained strong, going 3-for-7, which was a key factor in their success against the Generals in the regular season. The Generals were 0-for-3 with the man advantage.

Through two games, the Cubs are 5-for-11 on the powerplay to sit above 45 per cent, compared to the Generals, who are now 0-for-7.

Cubs goaltender Marlo DeRosa had another strong night in net, stopping 33 of 36 shots faced for the win.

Isaias Maddigan in the Generals’ net was able to turn aside 47 of 51 shots.

Game three is at the Kinplex on Thursday at 8:30 p.m.