By Scott Roblin

Special teams help Cubs snap winless streak against Cochrane

Oct 20, 2018 | 2:21 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – It’s been a rocky road to begin the Heritage Junior Hockey League season for the Medicine Hat Travelodge Cubs, but some light finally shone onto the club on Friday night.

The Cubs scored four goals in the span of six minutes against the visiting Cochrane Generals, snapping a six-game losing streak 5-4 and earning their first win since their season opener.

However, it was a slow start for the Cubs as they were outshot 13-8 by the Generals with Cochrane forward Taylor Girard opening the scoring with 5:53 left in the opening frame.

The Generals doubled that lead early in the second, with captain Chris Sambrook finishing off a pass from Brandon Aab less than four minutes into the period.

Just over three minutes later Medicine Hat was down a man, but Cooper Hilworth was able to continue his breakout season with a shorthanded marker to cut the deficit to 2-1.

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Cubs leading scorer Chandler Aleman joined in just over a minute later, netting his fifth goal of the season on a breakaway to knot the game up at 2-2 for Medicine Hat.

Sambrook was able to bury his second of the game shortly after to put the Generals back into the lead, but it was Aleman answering right back on the power play to bring the game even once again.

With 6:06 left in the second frame, Medicine Hat took their first lead of the night as newly acquired forward Teagan Berko scored in his first game at the Kinplex to make it a 4-3 contest.

Medicine Hat’s lead was short-lived however, as Cochrane was able to knot up the score at 4-4 with 4:46 left in the second from Benjamin Davison.

After 40 minutes of play Medicine Hat was outshot by a 30-21 count, but Ryan Arrigo was able to keep his team in the contest in his HJHL debut.

Near the midway mark of the third period the Cubs ran into penalty trouble again, with captain Quinten Karg getting the gate for slashing.

Down a skater, Cubs grinder Tavin Straub was able to steal away a loose puck and score the team’s second shorthanded goal of the night.

Medicine Hat was able to kill the clock for the remaining 10:37, earning their first victory in almost a month 5-4.

Arrigo had a debut to remember in Medicine Hat, making 30 saves on the evening to earn his first win in a Cubs uniform.

Finally snapping their losing skid, the Cubs have improved to a 2-4-2 record and remain in sixth place in the HJHL Southern Division.

Medicine Hat finishes their four-game home stand on Saturday night at 5:00 pm against the Mountainview Colts, before hitting the road on Sunday to face the Blackfalds Wranglers.