Congratulations to PMHA Male U17 Prep Student-Athlete, Carson Carels, who has been selected to represent Team Manitoba at the WHL Cup in Red Deer, Alberta from October 18th to 22nd, 2023.
The 2023 WHL Cup will showcase the top 2008-born players from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The tournament will feature teams from the four Western Canadian provinces competing in a round-robin tournament format followed by playoffs.
2023 WHL Cup – Manitoba’s Schedule
Wednesday, October 18
Game 1 – Manitoba at Alberta – 4:15 p.m. MT
Thursday, October 19
Game 3 – British Columbia at Manitoba – 4:15 p.m. MT
Friday, October 20
Game 5 – Manitoba at Saskatchewan – 4:15 p.m. MT
Saturday, October 21
Semifinal 1 – Third Place at Second Place – 10:15 a.m. MT
Semifinal 2 – Fourth Place at First Place – 1 p.m. MT
Sunday, October 22
Bronze Medal Game – 10:15 a.m. MT
Gold Medal Game – 1 p.m. MT
About the WHL Cup
The majority of players participating in the event were selected in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft or have been listed by WHL Clubs. The WHL Cup, formerly known as the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup, has been sponsored since 2009 by the Western Hockey League. The 2023 tournament represents the first involving a three-year sponsorship by FPS Payment.
This year will mark the 10th 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 2011, the Moose Jaw Warriors and Hockey Saskatchewan hosted the event at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw, Sask. In 2012 and 2013, the tournament was hosted in Calgary at Father David Bauer Arena, the home of the WHL. From 2015 through 2019, the WHL Cup was hosted in Calgary at the Markin MacPhail Centre.
In 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 the WHL Cup was not contested due to the Canada Winter Games.
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 is the defending champion of the WHL Cup, having won the event in 2012, 2017 and 2021. Team Saskatchewan won its lone WHL Cup in 2019, defeating Team Manitoba in the Gold Medal game.
Congratulations Carson, and best of luck from all of us at Pilot Mound Hockey Academy!
