WHL Cup kicks off with players from across Alberta, including Olds

The 2024 WHL Cup kicks off in Red Deer Wednesday with Team Alberta players coming from across the province including one from Olds.

The Oct. 23 – 27 tourney showcases the top 2009-born players from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

The majority of players participating in the event were selected in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft or have been listed by Western Hockey League clubs. The WHL Cup, formerly known as the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup, has been sponsored since 2009 by the Western Hockey League.

The Team Alberta roster for this year’s WHL Cup squad is comprised of two goaltenders, seven defence and eleven forwards including Olds’ Crew Martinson.

Of the players on the twenty-man roster, seven players were taken in the first round of the 2024 Western Hockey League Draft, eight players were taken in the second round, three players were taken in the third round, and one player each was taken in the fourth and sixth rounds.

The Tri-City Americans took Olds’ Martinson in the second round of May’s draft. The 2024-25 Red Deer Chiefs U18 AAA player was the 24^th player chosen.

Alberta’s team for the WHL Cup includes players from eleven different communities across Alberta – Calgary, Edmonton, Cochrane, Blackfalds, Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Sturgeon County, Airdrie, Rocky View County, Fort McMurray and Olds.

Nine players play in the Alberta Elite Hockey League, while the other eleven players play in the CSSHL.

Schedule for WHL Cup at the Peavy Mart  Centrium:

Wednesday, Oct. 23
Game 1 – Manitoba at British Columbia – 4:15 p.m. MT
Game 2 – Saskatchewan at Alberta – 7 p.m. MT

Thursday, Oct. 24
Game 3 – British Columbia at Saskatchewan – 4:15 p.m. MT
Game 4 – Alberta at Manitoba – 7 p.m. MT

Friday, Oct. 25
Game 5 – Saskatchewan at Manitoba – 10:30 a.m. MT
Game 6 – British Columbia at Alberta – 1:15 p.m. MT

Saturday, Oct. 26
Semifinal – Third Place at Second Place – 1:15 p.m. MT
Semifinal – Fourth Place at First Place – 4 p.m. MT

Sunday, Oct. 27
Bronze Medal Game – 10:15 a.m. MT
Gold Medal Game – 1 p.m. MT