By Lisa Parent

‘They understand what it takes’: Medicine Hat Cubs ready to tackle second half of season

Jan 5, 2024 | 5:06 PM

For numerous hockey teams, Christmas signaled the halfway point of the season, offering a well-deserved break from the ice.

The Medicine Hat Cubs wrapped up the first half of their season with 17 wins, four loss and three overtime losses.

Head coach of the Medicine Hat Cubs, Randy Wong said the break was difficult for some of the players who wanted to maintain season momentum, but it was necessary.

“But certainly the break I think in the end will be good for everybody,” Wong told CHAT News. “It’s just a little bit of a mental break, a little physical break and now you can get rejuvenated for the second half.”

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: Dec. 13-15

11h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

Dec 12, 2024

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

Dec 12, 2024

One of the players who impressed coach Randy Wong in the first half was Kyle Woolridge. With 22 goals and nine assists on the board, Woolridge sits as a top point scorer on the team.

“It’s a good feeling, but you still gotta work hard. There’s still guys better in the league, so just gotta keep playing harder every game,” Woolridge said.

Another key player on this year’s Cubs captain is Callen Prosofsky, both the leader of the team and the holder of eight goals and 15 assists.

“(He’s) one of the hardest working guys in practice and that’s really contagious,” said Wong. “In the games you can see he’s one of our top penalty killers.”

However, the 20 year old forward credited his teammates for making ‘captain’ an easy title to hold.

“Everyone’s got their own work ethic and they do it in their own special way,” Prosofsky said. “We all compliment each other nicely.”

While hosting many returning players, such as Prosofsky and Woolridge, Wong asserted that this year’s Cubs differ significantly from past seasons.”

“They understand what it takes. They’re a fairly tight group and that’s what you need for playoff hockey,” said Wong.

Much of that camaraderie shines through in the fun social media posts made by Cubs defenseman, Jamal Shaw.

Shaw said he was handed the reigns to the team social media account due to his history as a drama kid in high school.

Now, as he ventures through Medicine Hat, he finds himself being recognized in various unexpected spots as the ‘Cubs social media personality.’

“They’re fun to make and it just shows that we have fun,” said Shaw.

Coach Randy Wong said he believes this tight-knit group can make it far in playoffs, but for now they will just take things one game at a time.

“Our focus really is let’s worry about tomorrow, the next game,” Wong explained. “Let’s not look too far down the road.”

The Cubs play the Strathmore Wheatland Kings on Saturday, a team they lost to right before the holiday break.