2024 WHL Cup Preview: Wagner, Failler and Wilm (Team Sask)
Regina, Sask. – The Western Hockey League, in partnership with BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, Hockey Saskatchewan, and Hockey Manitoba, announced the official rosters for the 2024 WHL Cup on October 8. Amongst those prospects include six from the Regina Pats.
Aiden Wagner, Sam Failler and Hunter Wilm will represent Team Saskatchewan. Drake Mooney will represent Team Alberta while Cohen Handby and Mathis Paull will play for Team B.C.
The tournament will begin on Wednesday, October 23, and run through Sunday, October 27. All games will be played exclusively at the Peavey Mart Centrium – home of the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels. The tournament will feature teams from the four Western Canadian provinces competing in a round-robin tournament format followed by playoffs.
Pats prospects Wagner, Failler and Wilm will get underway with Team Saskatchewan on October 23, when they take on Team Alberta.
Aiden Wagner | Saskatoon Blazers U18 AAA
Wagner, 15, has complied one assist in five games this season with the Blazers. The 5-foot-11, 168 lb. right-shot defenceman was drafted by the Pats in the second round (25th overall) of the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft.
[Playing for the Blazers] is a great place to be. A lot of great players have come out of here,” said Wagner. “I think this program will help me develop a lot and hopefully put me in a position to make the Pats next year. It’s taken a bit of adjusting, but I think I’ve gotten off to a good start this year. My team has helped around me, making good plays and I’ve been helping them out as much as I can.”
Wagner was signed by the Pats just a month after being selected by the Regiment in the spring. This came after the the Yorkton, Sask. product recorded 23 points (4G-19A) in 22 games with the Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep team in 2023-24 as well as six points (3G-3A) in five playoff games. In addition, Wagner was a CSSHL U15 Champion and was named a CSSHL U15 Second-Team All-Star last season.
After playing in one pre-season game with the Pats, Wagner has set several goals to improve his game this season. His goal is to put himself in a great position on and off the ice to make the jump to the WHL as a 16-year-old next season.
“Playing a heavy game is one of them, but I just want to be hard to play against,” Wagner explained. “I just want to keep a solid game this season, and making sure opponents aren’t scoring too many goals on me. I also want to hopefully create a few chances and score a few goals.
Wagner says his favourite player is two-time Stanley Cup winner Drew Doughty. That’s someone Wagner tries to model his game after.
“I like Drew Doughty because he’s a two-way defender who plays a pretty heavy game. He makes smart players and stops a lot of goals, so that’s who I model my game after,” Wagner added.
Sam Failler | Warman Wildcats U18 AAA
Failler, 15, has tallied two points (1G-1A) in three games with the Wildcats this season. The Dundurn, Sask. product was drafted by the Pats in the second round (38th overall) of the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft.
“The Regina Pats organization is a first class org, and I was really happy to get drafted there,” Failler said. “They’ve taught me little things around the ice like face-offs, and how to get around defenders. Just ways to make the game easier and not have to do as much work. It’s been a lot of fun to learn what is takes to be a WHL player.”
Last season, Failler recorded 48 points (19G-29A) in 19 games with the Martensville Marauders U15 AA team, finishing fourth on his club in points, goals and assists. The 5-foot-9, 139 lb. right-shot forward played for the Marauders U15 AA team in 2022-23, scoring 42 points (16G-26A) in 29 games.
Failler has always been a scorer in his career, producing a 2.52 points per-game total in 2023-24. As he continues to improve his offensive game, Failler looks to continue to work on being a complete player.
“One of my main strengths is my speed,” Failler explained. “I use my speed to get around defenders and make plays. I can read the ice really well, and see if I should make a pass or attack the net. I’d like to get stronger and faster. I think that’s a big step when moving up in age groups. I think everyone is a lot bigger and faster. I need to find different ways to keep up with them.”
Sebastian Aho of the Carolina Hurricanes is a player that Failler looks up to, and tries to model his game after.
“He’s a centre like me, and he’s a two-way player, and I want to be good on offence and reliable on defence,” Failler added. “He’s a good skater who makes plays, so I try my best to be like him.”
Hunter Wilm | Swift Current Legionnaires U18
Wilm, 15, has three points (1G-2A) in seven games so far tis season with the Legionnaires. The Central Butte, Sask. product was selected by the Pats in the sixth round (114th overall) of the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft.
“The start to the season as been great so far. We’ve won five in a row, so I think we’re on a heater,” Wilm said. “For myself, it’s been pretty good so far. I think I could be better but I’m really excited to be at the WHL Cup with Team Sask. I thought I did really good a tryouts. I’m a hard working forward who gets the job done.”
Last season, Wilm tallied 41 points (19G-22A) in 26 games with the Swift Current Broncos U15 AA team, finishing third on his club in points and goals. The 5-foot-8, 134 lb. and played for the Saskatchewan Jr. Pats in 2018-19 at the Brick Invitational.
Wilm says his opportunity at the WHL Cup and moving forward this season is a chance to improve his all around game.
“I think I can play on both ends of the ice,” Wilm added. “I feel I have good hockey IQ and can find guys with my playmaking ability. I’d like to improve on my shot, so maybe shooting the puck a bit more. I want to become a better skater, get bigger in the gym and be quicker.”
The 2024 WHL Cup will showcase the top 2009-born players from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
The WHL Cup, established in 2009, is held every season except in years when the Canada Winter Games are contested, and is the first step in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence for players.
