Medicine Hat Cubs take on host Lloydminster Bandits to start Provincials

The Bandits compiled a 30-5 record for top spot in the North East Alberta Junior B Hockey League this year. They had eight wins and an overtime loss in the playoffs to win the league title.

Not competing against each other during the season makes it difficult to gauge how strong the opponent will be for the Cubs.

The team comes into the game on a seven-game playoff winning streak, capped off by the team’s first Heritage Junior Hockey League title.

Cubs head coach Trent Derzaph has done some homework, watching videos of the opponents at Provincials leading up to it.

He says to be the best, you have to beat the best.

“It’s probably going to be a little bit of a workout for us, being that it’s their home. They’ll have some fans likely behind them,” Derzaph said.

“But we have done well all through the playoffs in other people’s barns. So not a big concern, but we have to stick to our guns,” he added.

“We’ve got to go out and focus on what we did to win the HJHL. Keep playing our game. I don’t want to change for other teams. We have to take it to them with our speed and our strengths, and we’ll be there in the end.”

The Cubs will have a quick turnaround following the game on Wednesday, with a game at noon on Thursday against the CNHA Black North Stars out of Calgary.

“It’s an extremely tight turnaround. Living in the hotel and that sort of thing, it all weighs on everybody. However, I guess that’s the bonus part about playing the local team first,” Derzaph said.

“Then we’re getting the second day, our second game. It’s an early one. However, the other teams have already played a game as well. We just got to go to work and do what we do,” he added.

“As far as the lineup goes, I’m taking 27 guys up, and we’re going to get a chance to see all 27 guys throughout.”

The opponents are new to the Cubs; playing a team like Lloydminster on the first day could give them some insight into their Saturday opponent.

The Vermilion Tigers lost to the Bandits in the NEAJBHL finals.

The Cubs last played on March 21 and have had 11 days for the players to heal from some bumps and bruises during the playoffs.

“We got some rest and relaxed a little bit, and we hit the ice and practiced for the last week and a half. I believe that it’ll be good for us. And we can get right after it,” Derzaph said.

The top four teams from the six-team round-robin will play for medals. The teams with the best records will battle for gold, with the loser taking home silver. The third and fourth teams from the round robin play for bronze on Sunday.

A pair of teams will also get an early trip home after finishing on Saturday.

Medicine Hat Cubs Provincials Schedule:

Wednesday, April 1 – 8 p.m. vs. Lloydminster Bandits
Thursday, April 2 – noon vs. CNHA Black
Friday, April 3 – noon vs. Sherwood Park Knights
Saturday, April 4 – 6 p.m. vs. Vermilion Tigers

Potential Games:

Sunday, April 5 – 10:30 a.m. – Bronze Medal Game
Sunday, April 5 – 2 p.m. – Gold Medal Game

The full provincial schedule can be viewed here.

All games are being broadcast through FloSports.

by Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat Cubs take on host Lloydminster Bandits to start Provincials

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