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Team Manitoba Wins 2023 WHL Cup Presented by FPS Payment

October 22, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Red Deer, Alta. - Brek Liske scored twice in the shootout as Manitoba defeated Alberta by a 6-5 margin to claim the first ever Gold Medal for the Keystone Province at the 2023 WHL Cup presented by FPS Payment.

Manitoba persevered Sunday afternoon at the Peavey Mart Centrium in Red Deer.

After staking out a 5-3 lead in the third period, Manitoba watched as Alberta erased the two-goal spread to force overtime. Following 10 minutes of scoreless extra time, the two squads were off to the shootout where Liske (Everett Silvertips / Beausejour, Man.) scored on two of his three attempts while netminder Peyton Shore (Red Deer Rebels / Winnipeg, Man.) steered aside five of the six Alberta shots as Manitoba emerged victorious for the first time in WHL Cup history.

Manitoba had previously earned Silver Medal finishes in 2015 and 2019.

While Shore stopped five of six pucks in the shootout, he also did his part through regulation and overtime. Peppered with 58 shots, the fifth-round pick of the Rebels made 53 saves in an impressive performance between the pipes.

The two teams traded goals early on in the affair with Patrick Sopiarz (Prince George Cougars / Edmonton, Alta.) and Caelan Joudrey (Wenatchee Wild / Airdrie, Alta.) scoring for Alberta while Koy Funk (Calgary Hitmen / Portage la Prairie, Man.) and Carson Carels (Prince George Cougars / Cypress River, Man.) responding for Manitoba.

Midway through the second period, it was Aiden Jacobson (Winnipeg, Man.) breaking the 2-2 deadlock and sparking a three-goal outburst for the black and gold.

Carter Haney (Regina Pats / Winnipeg, Man.) made it a 4-2 advantage for Manitoba before the second period came to a close before Carels secured his second goal of the game 3:50 into the third period to pad the Manitoba advantage to 5-2.

Alberta responded with markers from Jordan Duguay (Portland Winterhawks / Edmonton, Alta.) and Sopiarz.

Joudrey finished the day with an impressive four points (1G-3A) for Alberta, while Ty Meunier (Prince Albert Raiders / St. Albert, Alta.) chipped in with three assists.

For Manitoba, Liske provided two helpers in addition to his two shootout strikes. Captain Jaxon Jacobson (Brandon Wheat Kings / Brandon, Man.) also notched two assists, as did Carter Kingerski (Tri-City Americans / Headingley, Man.).

TEAM SASKATCHEWAN WINS BRONZE AT 2023 WHL CUP PRESENTED BY FPS PAYMENT

Red Deer, Alta. - Captain Dayne Beuker scored two goals, including the game winner, as Team Saskatchewan cruised to a 6-2 victory over Team B.C. to claim the Bronze Medal at the 2023 WHL Cup presented by FPS Payment.

GAME SUMMARY

Beuker (Lethbridge Hurricanes / Humboldt, Sask.) scored his fifth goal of the tournament 12:45 into the second period, giving Saskatchewan a commanding 3-0 lead, following on the heels of two goals from Carson Deichert (Moose Jaw Warriors / Moose Jaw, Sask.).

Liam Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers / Osoyoos, B.C.) scored his seventh goal of the tournament 4:02 into the third period to get B.C. on the board and cut the lead to 3-1. But Saskatchewan answered right back with two quick goals from Jonah Sivertson (Prince Albert Raiders / Regina, Sask.) and Beckett Hamilton (Red Deer Rebels / Saskatoon, Sask.) to build a 5-1 lead.

Joe Iginla (Edmonton Oil Kings / Lake Country, B.C.) recorded his first goal of the tournament, but it wasn't enough to spur a Team B.C. comeback and Beuker iced the game with an empty-net goal, his sixth tally of the tournament.

Goaltender Jackson Dunn (Regina, Sask.) made 26 saves on 28 shots to backstop Team Saskatchewan.

This is the third consecutive WHL Cup in which Saskatchewan has earned a medal. In 2021, it was a Bronze Medal finish for the Land of Living Skies while 2019 saw Saskatchewan claim Gold.

Beuker finished the 2023 WHL Cup as Saskatchewan's scoring leader, having registered seven points (6G-1A) in five games. Kash Alger-East (Victoria Royals / Meadow Lake, Sask.) was second in scoring for Saskatchewan, chipping in with six assists.

The 2023 WHL Cup presented by FPS Payment is supported by Tourism Red Deer.

2023 WHL Cup MVP

Carson Carels, Team Manitoba (Prince George Cougars / Cypress River, Man.)

2023 WHL Cup All-Star Team

Goaltender: Peyton Shore, Team Manitoba (Red Deer Rebels / Winnipeg, Man.)

Defence: Carson Carels, Team Manitoba (Prince George Cougars / Cypress River, Man.)

Defence: Brek Liske, Team Manitoba (Everett Silvertips / Beausejour, Man.)

Forward: Dayne Beuker, Team Saskatchewan (Lethbridge Hurricanes / Humboldt, Sask.)

Forward: Markus Ruck, Team B.C. (Medicine Hat Tigers / Osoyoos, B.C.)

Forward: Liam Ruck, Team B.C. (Medicine Hat Tigers / Osoyoos, B.C.)

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