WHL announces rosters for 2019 WHL Cup

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League, in partnership with BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, Saskatchewan Hockey Association, Hockey Manitoba and Hockey Canada, announced today the rosters for the 2019 WHL Cup, which will begin Wednesday, October 23, at the Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary, Alta.

The 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 take place from Wednesday, October 23 through Sunday, October 27.

The Raiders are represented by four prospects at this year’s WHL Cup: Niall Crocker (British Columbia), Tre Fouquette (Saskatchewan), Graydon Gotaas (Alberta), and Bryce Warkentine (Manitoba).

Of the 80 players scheduled to compete, 77 were selected at the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft.

FULL TEAM ROSTERS

Team Alberta
As five-time champions at the tournament, Alberta will boast another strong roster featuring six first-round selections from the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft. Alberta’s roster features three of the top-five selections from the May draft, with defenceman Keaton Dowhaniuk (third overall, Prince George Cougars), as well as forwards Koehn Ziemmer (fourth overall, Prince George Cougars) and Nate Danielson (fifth overall, Brandon Wheat Kings) leading the team’s talented roster. Calgary’s Nicholas Jones (93^rd overall, Brandon Wheat Kings) and Edmonton’s Justen Maric (98^th overall, Red Deer Rebels) will tend to the crease.

Team British Columbia
British Columbia will field a strong roster for their title defence, including nine first-round selections from the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft. B.C.’s top two selections from May’s draft lead the list of talent for the western-most province, with Mats Lindgren (seventh overall, Kamloops Blazers) and forward Brandon Lisowsky (ninth overall, Saskatoon Blades) leading their respective positions. Lindgren will be joined by fellow Blazer prospects Connor Levis (20^th overall), Fraser Minten (72^nd overall), and Cameron Johnson (86^th overall). Kolby Hay (62^nd overall, Edmonton Oil Kings) and Kyle Kelsey (107^th overall, Moose Jaw Warriors) will tend to the crease.

Team Manitoba
Following another bronze-medal finish in 2018, Manitoba is icing a roster looking to take that next step forward. Their 20-man team features three first-round selections from the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft, led by forwards Conor Geekie (second overall, Winnipeg ICE) and Tyson Zimmer (sixth overall, Brandon Wheat Kings) and defenceman Denton Mateychuk (11^th overall, Moose Jaw Warriors). Left wing Cayden Glover (25^th overall, Medicine Hat Tigers) and defenceman Spencer Penner (29^th overall, Seattle Thunderbirds) will add to the team’s depth. A pair of third-round selections in Reid Dyck (45^th overall, Swift Current Broncos) and Matthew Kieper (63^rd overall, Regina Pats) will protect the blue paint for Manitoba.

Team Saskatchewan
Eager to work their way back onto the podium in 2019, Saskatchewan will bring a motivated squad to Calgary in late October. This year’s team is led by defenceman Kevin Korchinski (10^th overall, Seattle Thunderbirds), the top player from his province selected at last spring’s WHL Bantam Draft. Joining him will be five second-round selections, including defenceman Hunter Mayo (23^rd overall, Red Deer Rebels), Kyren Gronick (27^th overall, Prince George Cougars), defenceman Kalem Parker (32^nd overall, Victoria Royals), and right wing Carter Dereniwsky (39^th overall, Victoria Royals). Rounding out the quintet of second-round choices is Dylan Ernst (28^th overall, Kamloops Blazers), the top goaltender selected at May’s draft.

The tournament will be a four-team round-robin format and is the first step in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence for players.

Past Participants
[Player (Branch Team), WHL Club, NHL Draft Club (NHL Draft Year)]

2009
Matt Dumba (Alberta), Portland Winterhawks, Minnesota Wild (2012)
Derrick Pouliot (Saskatchewan), Portland Winterhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins (2012)
Griffin Reinhart (British Columbia),  Edmonton Oil Kings, New York Islanders (2012)
Morgan Reilly (British Columbia), Moose Jaw Warriors, Toronto Maple Leafs (2012)

2011
Jake Virtanen (British Columbia), Calgary Hitmen, Vancouver Canucks (2014)
Jayce Hawryluk (Manitoba), Brandon Wheat Kings, Florida Panthers (2014)
Conner Bleackley (Alberta), Red Deer Rebels, St. Louis Blues (2016)
Brayden Point (Alberta), Moose Jaw Warriors, Tampa Bay Lightning (2014)
Ryan Gropp (British Columbia), Seattle Thunderbirds, New York Rangers (2015)
Haydn Fleury (Saskatchewan) Red Deer Rebels, Carolina Hurricanes (2014)

2012
Mathew Barzal (British Columbia), Seattle Thunderbirds, New York Islanders (2015)
Nick Merkley (Alberta), Kelowna Rockets, Arizona Coyotes (2015)
Jansen Harkins (British Columbia), Prince George Cougars, Winnipeg Jets (2015)
Brendan Guhle (Alberta), Prince George Cougars, Buffalo Sabres (2015)
Ethan Bear (Saskatchewan), Seattle Thunderbirds, Edmonton Oilers (2015)

2013
Tyler Benson (Alberta), Vancouver Giants, Edmonton Oilers (2016)
Brett Howden (Manitoba), Moose Jaw Warriors, Tampa Bay Lightning (2016)
Sam Steel (Alberta), Regina Pats, Anaheim Ducks (2016)
Kale Clague (Alberta), Moose Jaw Warriors, Los Angeles Kings (2016)
Nolan Patrick (Manitoba), Brandon Wheat Kings, Philadelphia Flyers (2017)

2015 WHL Cup All-Star Team
G – Matthew Thiessen (Manitoba), Tri-City Americans, Vancouver Canucks (2018)
D – Ty Smith (Alberta), Spokane Chiefs, New Jersey Devils (2018)
D – Jett Woo (Manitoba), Calgary Hitmen, Vancouver Canucks (2018)
F – Carson Focht (Saskatchewan), Calgary Hitmen, Vancouver Canucks (2019)
F – Eric Florchuk (Alberta), Saskatoon Blades, Washington Capitals (2018)
F – Eli Zummack (British Columbia), Spokane Chiefs

2016 WHL Cup All-Star Team
G – Byron Fancy (Alberta), Red Deer Rebels
D – Kaeden Korczak (Saskatchewan), Kelowna Rockets, Vegas Golden Knights (2019)
D – Braden Schneider (Saskatchewan), Brandon Wheat Kings
F – Logan Barlage (Saskatchewan), Lethbridge Hurricanes
F – Peyton Krebs (Alberta), Winnipeg ICE, Vegas Golden Knights (2019)
F – Josh Williams (British Columbia), Edmonton Oil Kings

2017 WHL Cup All-Stars
G – Bryan Thomson (Saskatchewan), Lethbridge Hurricanes
D – Kaiden Guhle (Alberta), Prince Albert Raiders
D – Daemon Hunt (Manitoba), Moose Jaw Warriors
F – Justin Sourdif (British Columbia), Vancouver Giants
F – Kyle Crnkovic (Alberta), Saskatoon Blades
F – Connor McClennon (Alberta), Winnipeg ICE

About the WHL Cup
The majority of players participating in the event will have been selected in the 2019 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 eighth 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 and 2018, 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 and 2017.

About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and five in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 350 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.