By Cami Kepke via Western Hockey League

RED DEER, Alta. - Prince Albert Raiders prospect Athens Shingoose (Waywayseecappo, Man.) scored the first hat trick of the 2025 WHL Cup, finishing with four goals, as Manitoba cruised past Saskatchewan 11-2 to improve to 3-0-0-0.

Entering the day as the tournament’s leading scorer (1G-4A), Shingoose opened the scoring by corralling a loose puck near the mouth of the goal and roofing it just over three minutes into the game.

Shortly afterward, Owen Conrad (Penticton Vees / Winnipeg, Man.) picked up his second assist of the period by teeing up a wide-open Jaxon Dean (Swift Current Broncos / Winnipeg, Man.) for a tap into a yawning cage

Saskatchewan alternate captain Jeff Prpich (Moose Jaw Warriors / Kenaston, Sask.), who was named Player of the Game in Thursday’s loss to Manitoba, squared things up with a long seeing-eye wrister to get his squad on the board.

Nixxon Arcande-Vandale (Lethbridge Hurricanes / Saskatoon, Sask.) sent the teams to the dressing rooms deadlocked at two after converting a Weston Kostiuk (Swift Current Broncos / Martensville, Sask.) rebound late in the frame.

But Manitoba quickly restored its lead in the second when Owen Murray (Everett Silvertips / Winnipeg, Man.) teed up Talon Scinocca (Penticton Vees / Brandon, Man.) for a one-timer in the Saskatchewan slot.

Shingoose doubled the lead in style with a late wrister from 2025 fifth-overall pick Reid Nicol (Everett Silvertips / Brandon, Man.) and James Stanton (Moose Jaw Warriors / Winnipeg, Man.)

The Manitoban contingent ensured their perfect tournament record would stay intact with a quick pair of goals in the final period.

Crewe Schimnowski (Portland Winterhawks / Winnipeg, Man.) seized a rebound and spun to whip the puck past a sprawling netminder.

Just 43 seconds later, a neutral zone turnover saw Nicol pick up his third assist of the game by pushing the puck up for Brayden Gregg to tip it five-hole on a two-on-one opportunity.

Dylan Russell (Red Deer Rebels / Winnipeg, Man.) made it 7-2 after hanging out unattended by the Saskatchewan net for a one-timer.

Shingoose netted a hat trick by redirecting a Stanton pass off the shaft of his stick and into the twine.

The third-period pile-on continued as Shingoose added his fourth goal of the day, and Nicol lit the lamp 43 seconds apart (yes, again).

Nicol, a 6-foot-1 centreman, capped off the night with a whopping goal and five assists.

Scinocca closed it out with his second goal of the evening.

Logan German (Kelowna Rockets / Winnipeg, Man.) steered aside 12 of 14 shots, and Ben Meyer (Medicine Hat Tigers / Regina, Sask.) stopped 55 of 63 before Josh Benjamin (Calgary Hitmen / Gull Lake, Sask.) came on in relief.

Nixxon Arcande-Vandale was named Player of the Game for Saskatchewan, while Nicol got the nod for Manitoba.

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Friday’s afternoon game saw Wenatchee Wild prospect Kalen Miles produce a five-point performance, including a hat trick of his own, as Team Alberta bounced Team B.C. by an 8-5 margin. Alberta converted on six of nine power-play opportunities to secure the win. With the victory, Team Alberta improved to 2-0-1-0 at the 2025 WHL Cup.

Team B.C. got out to a quick start, building a 2-0 lead less than eight minutes into the affair, thanks to strikes from Tri-City Americans prospect Justin Moon (Surrey, B.C.) and Saskatoon Blades prospect Alexander Sharman (Coldstream, B.C.). But it was short-lived.

Only 54 seconds later, it was Brandon Wheat Kings prospect Cruz Jim (Grande Prairie, Alta.) utilizing a power play to register his second goal of the tournament, making it a 2-1 game. It was the first of three power-play goals that turned the game in Alberta’s favour.

Miles was the next to convert on the man advantage, recording his first goal of the day to tie the game 2-2. Moments later, Kelowna Rockets prospect Will Kelts (Consort, Alta.) scored a power-play goal and suddenly it was 3-2 for Alberta heading into the first intermission.

Alberta carried the momentum into the second period, as Kamloops Blazers prospect Teagen Bouchard (Falher, Alta.) scored 34 seconds into the middle period to extend the lead to 4-2.

Once again on a power play, Miles registered his second goal of the game to make it 5-2 for Alberta. The product of Edmonton, Alta., scored his second consecutive power-play tally to complete the hat trick and give Alberta a commanding 6-2 lead. For good measure, Brandon Wheat Kings prospect Ahmad Fayad (Edmonton, Alta.) added Alberta’s sixth power-play marker before the close of the second period as the Wild Rose province roared out to a 7-2 lead thanks to seven straight goals.

B.C. responded before the close of the second period as Moon collected his second goal of the day to cut the Alberta lead to 7-3.

In the final 20 minutes of regulation, B.C. continued to press, outshooting Alberta by a 13-9 tally.

Medicine Hat Tigers prospect Michael Kuzik (Langley, B.C.) found the back of the net midway through the third period to make it a 7-4 game. Moments later, Moon completed a hat trick of his own and B.C. was back within two.

But Fayad responded 60 seconds later, restoring Alberta’s three-goal lead and putting the B.C. comeback on ice.

For Alberta, Kelts finished the day with five points (1G-4A), while Cruz (1G-3A) and Fayad (2G-2A) racked up four points each.

With the round robin in the books, Team Manitoba finishes first with a perfect 3-0-0-0 record, followed by second-place Alberta (2-0-1-0). Team B.C. claimed third place with a record of 1-2-0-0 while Team Saskatchewan sits fourth (0-3-0-0).

Team B.C. will look to avenge Friday’s loss when they engage Team Alberta in a rematch in the first semifinal matchup at 10:15 a.m. MT on Saturday, Oct. 25.

Team Manitoba versus Team Saskatchewan will follow in the second semifinal game at 12:45 p.m. MT.