British Columbia holds off Manitoba comeback attempt to claim victory in WHL Cup opener

Red Deer, Alta.- Victoria Royals prospect Jacob Schwartz’s late goal propelled British Columbia to a 4-3 victory in the opening match of the 2024 WHL Cup on Wednesday, October 23.

Schwartz and Eddy Spytz (Everett Silvertips / Victoria, B.C.) had a goal and an assist each while Cash Christie (Medicine Hat Tigers / North Vancouver, B.C.) saved 23 of 26 shots.

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Manitoba entered the evening bent on defending its first-ever gold medal at WHL Cup, but it was British Columbia breaking through first midway through the opening period.

Prince Albert’s 2024 second-overall pick Brock Cripps (Victoria, B.C.) stymied the Manitoba breakout with a swift poke check that shot the puck over to Wyatt Callander (Vancouver Giants / Prince George, B.C.), who put it on net for alternate captain Alexander Laing (Tri-City Americans / Langley, B.C.) to tip home for the game-opening goal.

The West Coast crew would double its lead with just over three minutes remaining in the first when Cohen Handby (Regina Pats / Kelowna, B.C.) stripped the puck at the Manitoba blue line, springing Trey Tourigny (Wenatchee Wild / Kelowna, B.C.) for a nice wrister from the faceoff dot.

Alternate captain Spytz kept B.C.’s furious forecheck going in the second period, grabbing a loose puck off the boards and wiring it to an open Jacob Schwartz on the Manitoba doorstep to make it 3-0.

Manitoba found its footing on a late powerplay with Asher Gingras (Kamloops Blazers / Steinbach, Man.) setting up several dangerous opportunities before feeding Antonio Correia (Calgary Hitmen / Winnipeg, Man.) in the high slot for a bar-down snipe to get on the board.

The defending champs struck again just over a minute later when Drayden Uhrina (Victoria Royals / Winnipeg, Man.) burst from behind the B.C. net to feed a wide-open Gingras for the one-timer to get Manitoba within one.

Manitoba kept the momentum rolling in the third as Gingras stole the puck from a B.C. defender and careened toward the opponent’s net. While he didn’t score, Uhrina was right behind to tuck the rebound into the net and tie the game.

But British Columbia would take advantage of a late powerplay with Spytz jumping on a long rebound to wire a cross-ice pass to Schwartz for the game-winning goal on a one-timer.

Urijah Moosetail (Brandon Wheat Kings / Brandon, Man.) steered aside 27 of 31 shots in the narrow loss.

Schwartz, who was selected eighth overall in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, and Gingras, who was chosen 22nd overall, picked up Player of the Game honours for their respective teams.

British Columbia (1-0) is back in action on Thursday, October 24 against Saskatchewan (0-0) at 4:00 p.m. MST.

Manitoba (0-1) faces off against Alberta (0-0) in a rematch of last year’s final on Thursday, October 24 at 7:00 p.m. MST.