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Logan Mayer is going to have the whole off-season to think about the ones that got away.
As his Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds Cubs headed into their final weekend of regular season play, they were in the driver's seat for locking down a playoff berth.
On Friday night in High River, the Cubs dropped a heartbreaking 4-3 decision to the host Flyers. The Flyers netted the winning goal 30 seconds into the third period, which broke a 3-3 tie.
That win brought both teams into a tie for fifth place and the final playoff berth in the South Division of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League at 31 points. The Flyers held the tiebreaker due to having one more win.
Medicine Hat returned home on Saturday to host the league leading Okotoks Bisons at the Kinplex. The Cubs arguably played their best game of the year, but saw a 6-4 third period lead disappear into a 7-6 defeat.
That same night, the Flyers defeated the Mountainview Colts 6-5 in Didsbury to officially eliminate the Cubs from playoff contention.
Medicine Hat closed its schedule playing the Colts on Sunday in Didsbury losing 13-6 to finish sixth in the South Division at 14-21-1-2.
Following the loss to the Bisons on Saturday, Mayer reflected on the large number of one and two goal games that got away from his team.
"It has been the story of our season," said Mayer. "We seem to get that close and we drop by one goal every game.
"It definitely takes a toll on the boys. You are trying the whole season to make playoffs, and you keep losing by one goal. Five goals is enough to win a game, and it just turns out not to be."
Mayer started the year as an assistant captain with the Cubs. He was named the team's captain after the Christmas break to lesson the obligations on former captain Derek Ginnell.
Cubs head coach Dave Kowalchuk thought Ginnell was worn down by work commitments on top of being the Cubs' captain.
"We felt there was a little bit too much pressure on Gino," said Kowalchuk. "He works a long day at a hard job. We just felt there was too much pressure, and he couldn't play his game.
"Logan (Mayer), he just took the role like he had it all year. The guys listened to him really well. Just his hard work on the ice is second to none.
"(Friday) night he took a slapshot right in the face. He left for about 10 minutes and came back out and played the rest of the game. He is a trooper."
Mayer said he was happy to run the captain's role, once he got it.
"That was definitely a surprise," said Mayer. "I had words with the coaches and everybody and also Derek (Ginnell).
"It went surprisingly smooth for the situation that it was. I think everybody did take it well. It was something that the coaches said needed to be done.
"You don't question that. It didn't affect the guys at all. I think we just kind of moved past what happened there."
The move wasn't able to help the Cubs make the playoffs. In Saturday's game, Ben Feere scored twice for the Cubs, while Fyle Funk, Ginnell, Josh Marshall and Cody Florkowski netting singles. Mayer assisted on Florkowski's goal.
Brendan Leis made 21 saves suffering the loss in the Medicine Hat net, and Taylor Berg stopped the only shot he faced, when Leis had to leave to get an equipment problem fixed.
Dillon Loomer and Lucas Mikkelsen both scored twice for Okotoks, while Kevan Mikkelsen, Phil Dillon and Chase Fallis had singles.
Alex Caravaggio turned away 11 of 16 shots starting in goal for the Bisons, and Tyler Hughes picked up the win turning back 12 of 13 shots in relief.
Mayer plans to be back next season with the Cubs, unless work or school commitments come up that dictate otherwise.
"I am looking forward to coming back," said Mayer. "I love the organization. I love the guys I play with. There is really no reason for me not to (return)."
