The Medicine Hat Cubs kicked off their season with a win.
The Cubs split the HJHL’s opening weekend, winning 5-3 Friday in the home opener against the High River Flyers. They lost 5-4 on Saturday to the Mountainview Colts.
On Friday they were tied 1-1 with High River through 20 minutes before a pair of goals in the second period put them ahead 3-1. The Cubs and Flyers then traded a pair of goals each en route to the 5-3 win.
Defenceman Brodie Heimbecker scored twice and both Cole Fisher and Colby Gulliver had a goal and two assists. Randen Collier had a solo tally, Kayden Van Ham made 20 saves.
On Sunday the Cubs trailed the Colts 2-1 after 20 minutes before ending the second period tied at 4-4. Mountainview scored the lone goal of the third period for the win.
Brennan Finke, Jesse Klimosko and Gulliver all had a goal and assist in the loss. Jaxon Bohrn had a goal as well.
Van Ham started the game, making 19 saves before he was assessed a hit to the head misconduct and fighting misconduct, ending his night with 5:59 left in the game. Hudson Corbett made six saves in relief. Van Ham was assessed a two-game suspension for the play.
Head coach Trent Derzaph, speaking with media after Friday’s game, saw the win as two points with more work to be done for his group.
“We’re a young group and we (had) a few guys out, the last couple of days they’ve been practising together, a couple different lines,” Derzaph said. “They just have to figure each other out, our back end, Brodie led the team tonight for sure. We had a couple guys up front there who finally got going after the nerves came out.”
On Friday the Cubs unveiled the 2026 HJHL championship banner, the franchise’s first title in the league. Derzaph says it was a proud moment to see returning members from the team on both the bench and on the ice. He says the ceremony gives them something to drive for this season.
“It’s just special right, it’s really special and every team in the league starts the year off wanting it,” Derzpah said. “I knew we had a team last year to do it and I know I have a team this year to do it.”
The Cubs have a pair of games this weekend, hosting the Rocky Rams on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. contest at the Kinplex before they head to Cochrane on Saturday to face the Generals.
Story and photo courtesy of: jtubb@medicinehatnews.com @ReporterTubb
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