The Cubs celebrate one of their seven goals in Sundays win over the Red Deer Vipers. (Image Credit: Jesse Gill/CHAT News)

By Jesse Gill

Sports

Medicine Hat Cubs are a win away from first HJHL title, with pair of wins over Red Deer Vipers

Mar 16, 2026 | 8:28 AM

The Medicine Hat Cubs are one win away from their first Heritage Junior Hockey League title after a 7-4 win over the Red Deer Vipers on Sunday at the Kinplex Arena.

A league title was last won by the organization 25 years ago in the IJHL, and they entered the HJHL the next season.

In game two, things had looked to get off to a rough start for the Cubs early, as the Vipers appeared to find the back of the net 47 seconds in.

“I told the guys we needed a quick start and maybe that first shift there, right when they got the goal called back, that wasn’t the start that we wanted, but we killed off that penalty and scored one shorty, so it was huge,” Cubs head coach Trent Derzaph said.

That short-handed marker was scored by Jesse Klimosko, who was able to chip the puck up to himself after picking off a Vipers clearing attempt. He drove to the net and put it past a sprawled-out Vipers goaltender, Meyer Gaume.

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After taking the 1-0 lead at the 1:40 mark, the Cubs kept pressing with a goal from Josiah Jackson just two minutes and 16 seconds later to extend the lead to 2-0.

A power play marker from a Blake Girard point shot at the 11:35 mark extended the Cubs’ lead to 3-0.

The Vipers would respond with a power play goal of their own just two minutes and two seconds later, as Tyler Gladney tipped in a Mason Hastings shot from the point to close the score to 3-1.

In the second period, the Cubs struck again just four minutes and one second in, as Nolen Sutherland banked one in off Gaume from the side of the net to push the Cubs’ lead to 4-1.

The lead would get extended once again when Keynan Cairns jumped out of the penalty box and followed up a Kyle Woolridge rebound to make it 5-1 for the Cubs.

Not going down without a fight, the Vipers started to close that gap. First, with a goal from Mason Hammerback, just a minute and three seconds later.

Then, two minutes and 40 seconds later, a Dylan Rude goal for the Vipers narrowed the Cubs’ lead to 5-3.

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Cubs forward Josiah Jackson wins a draw during game two of the HJHL Finals on Sunday. (Image Credit: Jesse Gill/CHAT News)

In the third period, Jacob Hazzard, fresh out of the penalty box, received a breakaway pass from Josiah Jackson and fired one past the Vipers’ goaltender to make it 6-3 Cubs. The goal officially went as unassisted.

At the 12:09 mark, the Vipers would strike again when Max Hammerback drove past a Cubs defender and snuck a backhander past Cubs goaltender Marlo DeRosa to narrow the lead to 6-4.

The Cubs would seal things at the 18:15 mark when Hayden King fired the puck the length of the ice to hit an empty net to cap off a 7-4 Cubs win.

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Linesmen break up a scrum in front of the Cubs net during a rough game that had 56 minutes in penalties called. (Image Credit: Jesse Gill/CHAT News)

Special teams played a huge factor for the Cubs as they were short-handed 11 times, and were only scored on once, while also going one for four on the power play, and scoring short-handed.

Playing short-handed isn’t a trend the Cubs head coach wants to see going forward.

“We’ve got to stay out of the box, play 5-on-5 against this, we’ve got the depth, right, we can do it, there’s no doubt in my mind, if not, let’s go on the power play,” Derzaph said.

The Cubs’ head coach was focused on staying in the moment after the win, before preparing for game three.

“I just said to the guys, let’s just enjoy the win tonight, and let’s dial it in this week and be ready,” Derzaph said.

“One shift, one period, one game. That’s all it takes.”

Derzaph said they will have to play a well-rounded, all-around game to finish the series on Saturday.

“Our forecheck’s been good, our back check’s been great. Our goal timings have been awesome, our defence is awesome, we’ve got guys from all four lines that are scoring. We just got to take it one shift at a time up there, and just enjoy it, and outwork them,” Derzaph said.

“It’s going to be the hardest game of the year, hands down, because they’ll be playing for their lives, and so will we,” he added.

“They’re a great team, honestly. We just got to get up on them quick, right, and roll over them, finish it, come next Saturday.”

A win Saturday in Red Deer would also conclude Cubs games at the Kinplex this season.

Derzaph appreciated the crowd support the Cubs received.

“It’s awesome, our fans are amazing, there were more sirens and horns in here tonight than I’ve heard all year,” Derzaph said.

“We owe it to our fans for tonight, to just keep us in this game and keep the positivity up.”

The Cubs will have a fan bus heading to Saturday’s potential series-clinching game in Red Deer.

Anyone looking for a seat on the bus can contact the Cubs by email at medhatcubs@gmail.com.

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READ: Cubs take series lead into game two of HJHL Finals in Medicine Hat on Sunday (March 15, 2026)