The Medicine Hat Cubs have taken a commanding 2–0 lead in the best‑of‑five Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) Finals after winning both opening games of the series last weekend.
With victories on the road and at home, the Cubs now sit one win away from capturing their first league championship in 25 years. Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday, March 21.
Series Summary: Games 1 & 2
Game 1 – March 14 | Red Deer
Medicine Hat 6, Red Deer 2
The Cubs received goals from six different players and handed Red Deer its first home loss of the postseason.
Game 2 – March 15 | Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat 7, Red Deer 4
After withstanding an early push from Red Deer, the Cubs responded with a key shorthanded goal and built a 3–0 lead they would not relinquish.
Series Breakdown
Balanced Scoring
Medicine Hat’s offensive depth has been a major factor in the series. Six different players scored in Game 1, followed by seven different goal scorers in Game 2. Captain Kyle Woolridge continues to lead the postseason with 11 goals.
Goaltending and Special Teams
Goaltender Marlo DeRosa has provided steady play, stopping 35 shots in Game 1 and 32 in Game 2. On special teams, the Cubs’ power play has remained a consistent threat, while Red Deer has struggled to limit Medicine Hat’s speed through the neutral zone.
Momentum Shift
By winning the series opener on the road, the Cubs seized home‑ice advantage and successfully defended it in Game 2, placing them firmly in control of the series.
Looking Ahead to Game 3
Game 3 returns to Red Deer on Saturday night with an 8:00 PM MDT puck drop.
Facing elimination, the Vipers will look for an aggressive start and a disciplined effort to extend the series. The Cubs, meanwhile, will aim to maintain their structured play and capitalize on scoring depth as they try to close out the championship.
How to Watch
You can stream Game 3 live through the FloHockey HJHL Broadcast. Official box scores and play-by-play updates are available on the HJHL Game Center
