Alberta remain undefeated

October 20, 2017 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release

Alberta remain undefeated
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Team Manitoba (3) at Team Saskatchewan (4) FULL STATISTICS / GAME STORY

In need of a victory, Team Saskatchewan came out and made good, skating to a 4-3 victory over Team Manitoba Thursday evening at the Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary.

Ethan Ernst (Kelowna Rockets / Weyburn) was named Player of the Game, recording two goals to lead the green and gold while Bryan Thomson (Red Deer Rebels / Moose Jaw) backstopped his team with 27 saves.

A power-play goal midway through the third period from defenceman Austin Dycer (Medicine Hat Tigers / Yorkton) broke a 3-3 tie and proved to be the difference maker as Saskatchewan laid claim to a vital regulation win.

James Form (Kootenay ICE / Saskatoon) provided the other marker for Saskatchewan, while Brody Wilson (Kelowna Rockets / Birtle), Jackson Klewchuk (Undrafted / Winnipeg) and Nolan Ritchie (Brandon Wheat Kings / Brandon) replied for Manitoba.

Seth Jarvis (Portland Winterhawks / Winnipeg) was named Player of the Game for Manitoba.

Team British Columbia (2) at Team Alberta (6) FULL STATISTICS / GAME STORY

Team Alberta remained undefeated at the 2017 WHL Cup following a 6-2 triumph over Team British Columbia Thursday evening at the Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary.

Connor McClennon (Kootenay ICE / Wainwright) was named Player of the Game for his team, notching two goals and an assist to fuel the offense for the Wild Rose boys. Kyle Crnkovic (Saskatoon Blades / Chestermere) helped spur on the offense as well, putting forth an impressive four-point effort (1G-3A).

Sebastian Cossa (Edmonton Oil Kings / Fort McMurray) made 26 saves for the win in his first complete game of the tournament.

Alberta claimed a 2-0 lead in the first period courtesy goals from McClennon and defenceman Kaiden Guhle (Prince Albert Raiders / Sherwood Park), and never looked back.

Tyson Phare (Prince George Cougars / Maple Ridge) was named Player of the Game for B.C.

Leading Scorers

1. Kyle Crnkovic (AB) - 1G-4A - 5pts

2. Kaiden Gauhle (AB) - 3G-1A - 4pts

3. Connor McClennon (AB) - 3G-1A - 4pts

4. Alex Ozar (SK) - 1G-3A - 4pts

5. Jake Neighbours (AB) - 1G-2A - 3pts

Standings

1. Team Alberta (2-0-0-0, 6pts, +9)

2. Team Saskatchewan (1-0-1-0, 3pts, -4)

3. Team Manitoba (0-1-1-0, 2pt, E)

4. Team British Columbia (0-0-2-0, 0pts, -5)

Event Schedule - Friday, October 20

Markin MacPhail Centre - WinSport / Calgary, Alta.

*All times local

11:00-11:45 a.m. - Team Alberta Pre-game Skate

**Players & coaches media availability to follow pre-game skates

3:00-5:30 p.m. - Game 5: Team British Columbia vs. Team Saskatchewan

6:30-9:00 p.m. - Game 6: Team Manitoba vs. Team Manitoba

Media Accreditation & Access

Please contact WHL Manager, Communications Taylor Rocca via email (roccat@whl.ca) for all accreditation and interview requests.

About the 2017 WHL Cup

This year's tournament takes place from Wednesday, October 18 through Sunday, October 22. The 2017 WHL Cup features the highest-rated players in the under-16 age category from the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The tournament will be a four-team round-robin format and is the first step in Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence for players.

The majority of players participating in the event will have been selected in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft or have since been listed by WHL Clubs. The WHL Cup, formerly known as the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup, has been sponsored since 2009 by the WHL and has been made possible through financial support provided by the WHL, Hockey Manitoba, BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, Saskatchewan Hockey Association and Hockey Canada.

This year will mark the seventh year of the event. The first ever WHL Cup was held in Blackfalds, Alta., in 2009 and featured four of the top eight players selected in the 2012 NHL Draft. In 2010, the WHL Cup was not contested due to the Canada Winter Games. In 2011, the Moose Jaw Warriors and Saskatchewan Hockey Association hosted the event at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw, Sask. In 2012, the tournament was hosted in Calgary at Father David Bauer Arena, the home of the WHL. In 2013, the tournament was again hosted in Calgary at Father David Bauer Arena. In 2014, the WHL Cup was not contested due to the Canada Winter Games. Since 2015, the WHL Cup has been hosted in Calgary at the Markin MacPhail Centre.

Team Alberta is a five-time champion of the WHL Cup, hoisting the trophy in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016, while Team British Columbia won the event in 2012.

Past Participants

(Player, WHL Club - NHL Draft/Current NHL Club - Branch Team)

2009

Matt Dumba, Red Deer Rebels - Minnesota Wild - Team Alberta

Derek Pouliot, Portland Winterhawks - Vancouver Canucks - Team Saskatchewan

Griffin Reinhart, Edmonton Oil Kings - Vegas Golden Knights - Team BC

Morgan Reilly, Moose Jaw Warriors - Toronto Maple Leafs - Team BC

2011

Jake Virtanen, Calgary Hitmen - Vancouver Canucks - Team BC

Jayce Hawryluk, Brandon Wheat Kings - Florida Panthers - Team Manitoba

Connor Bleackley, Red Deer Rebels - St. Louis Blues - Team Alberta

Brayden Point, Moose Jaw Warriors - Tampa Bay Lightning - Team Alberta

Ryan Gropp, Seattle Thunderbirds - New York Rangers - Team BC

Haydn Fleury, Red Deer Rebels - Carolina Hurricanes - Team Saskatchewan

2012

Mathew Barzal, Seattle Thunderbirds - New York Islanders - Team BC

Nick Merkley, Kelowna Rockets - Arizona Coyotes - Team Alberta

Jansen Harkins, Prince George Cougars - Winnipeg Jets - Team BC

Brendan Guhle, Prince Albert Raiders - Buffalo Sabres - Team Alberta

Ethan Bear, Seattle Thunderbirds - Edmonton Oilers - Team Saskatchewan

2013

Tyler Benson, Vancouver Giants - Edmonton Oilers - Team Alberta

Brett Howden, Moose Jaw Warriors - Tampa Bay Lightning - Team Manitoba

Sam Steel, Regina Pats - Anaheim Ducks - Team Alberta

Kale Clague, Brandon Wheat Kings - Los Angeles Kings - Team Alberta

Nolan Patrick, Brandon Wheat Kings - Philadelphia Flyers - Team Manitoba

2015 WHL Cup All-Star Team

G - Matthew Thiessen, Tri-City Americans - Altona, MB - Team Manitoba

D - Ty Smith, Spokane Chiefs - 2018 NHL Top Prospect - Team Alberta

D - Jett Woo, Moose Jaw Warriors - 2018 NHL Top Prospect - Team Manitoba

F - Carson Focht, Tri-City Americans - 2018 NHL Top Prospect - Team Saskatchewan

F - Eric Florchuk, Victoria Royals - Ft. Saskatchewan, AB - Team Alberta

F - Eli Zummack, Spokane Chiefs - 2018 NHL Top Prospect - Team BC

2016 WHL Cup All-Star Team

G - Byron Fancy (Team Alberta) - Claresholm, AB - Red Deer Rebels

D - Kaeden Korczak (Team Saskatchewan) - Yorkton, SK - Kelowna Rockets

D - Braden Schneider (Team Saskatchewan) - Prince Albert, SK - Brandon Wheat Kings

F - Logan Barlage (Team Saskatchewan) - Humboldt, SK - Swift Current Broncos

F - Peyton Krebs (Team Alberta) - Okotoks, AB - Kootenay ICE

F - Joshua Williams (Team British Columbia) - Langley, BC - Medicine Hat Tigers

Alberta remain undefeated

Western Hockey League Stories from October 20, 2017

• Basran Called Up - Kelowna Rockets
• Pats Host Royals in Search of Fourth Straight Win - Regina Pats
• Alberta remain undefeated - WHL

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