Cubs win season opener in overtime

The Medicine Hat Cubs kicked off the Heritage Junior B Hockey League season with an overtime thriller Saturday in Didsbury.

Bailey Taylor scored five minutes into the third to force overtime then struck again in sudden death to send the Cubs into the season on a high note with a 6-5 victory over the Mountainview Colts.

Cubs goaltender Brendan Patterson locked up the victory after turning aside 43 Mountainview opportunities — including 18 in the second period and two more in overtime. The Cubs jumped to an early 2-0 lead following a power play goal from Kian Simonson and an even strength marker from Mackenzie Fritzler. The Colts responded with a goal from Quintin Thorburn a few minutes late. While Fritzler struck again in the dying minutes of the period, Mountainview’s Colton Anderson answered back 12 seconds later to give his team some momentum at the break.

The Colts exploded into the middle frame after making a goaltending change — swapping out starter Trei Weber in exchange for Reid Money after three goals on 12 shots. First Damian Vickers and Regan Keim connecting for two goals inside two minutes to steal away the lead, then Erran Thompson tacked on 10 minutes later.

But Medicine Hat’s Riley Florkowski snuck one past Money to help set up Taylor’s overtime magic.

The Cubs make their debut at the Kinplex with Saturday’s home opener against the Stettler Lightning at 7:45 p.m.