By Cami Kepke via Western Hockey League

RED DEER, Alta. - Five different skaters found the back of the net for Saskatchewan as the team in green downed Alberta 5-2 in a WHL Cup prairie province showdown.

Carter Moen’s (Swift Current Broncos / Swift Current, Sask.) first-period goal would stand as the game-winner and goaltender Adam Muntain (Spokane Chiefs / Regina, Sask.) impressed with 37 stops to preserve the win.

• GAME SUMMARY
• PLAYER STATS
• TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Hunter Wilm (Regina Pats / Central Butte, Sask.) broke the stalemate eight minutes into the opening period by swiping the puck off the stick of an Alberta defender and charging the net with a deft top-shelf shot.

2024 WHL Prospects Draft fifth overall pick Kayden Stroeder (Edmonton Oil Kings / Lanigan, Sask.) extended Saskatchewan’s lead with a fantastic solo effort shortly after, stealing the puck at centre ice, deking a defender and firing his first goal of the tournament high blocker side.

Alternate captain Carten Moen rounded out the first period scoring with a heavy wrister from the faceoff dot with Cash Arcand-Vandale (Red Deer Rebels / Saskatoon, Sask.) picking up the primary assist.

The Saskatchewan onslaught continued into the second with defenceman Aiden Wagner (Regina Pats / Yorkton, Sask.) picking up a loose puck and rifling it off the iron and in just before alternate captain Blake Chorney (Vancouver Giants / Nipawin, Sask.) made the most of a double-minor powerplay with a strong wrister to make it 5-0 just ahead of the halfway mark.

Alberta got on the board with its first goal of the tournament early in the third when alternate captain Crew Martinson (Tri-City Americans / Olds, Alta.) drove the net and fellow ‘A’ Brock England (Seattle Thunderbirds / Airdrie, Alta.) snapped the rebound into the yawning cage.

England and Mirco Dufour (Everett Silvertips / Rocky View, Alta.) picked up additional assists and Jordin St. Louis (Portland Winterhawks / Airdrie, Alta.) banged home a late powerplay goal for a final score of 5-2.

Player of the Game honours went to 2024 11th overall pick England with a pair of assists and Stroeder with his highlight-reel goal.

Between the pipes, Adam Muntain turned aside 37 of 39 shots for Saskatchewan, while Drake Mooney (Regina Pats / Blackfalds, Alta.) stopped eight of 12 shots before Leif Oaten (Lethbridge Hurricanes / Calgary, Alta.) came on in relief, turning aside 13 of 14.

Saskatchewan (1-0) meets British Columbia (1-0) in Thursday afternoon action at 4:15 p.m. MST, while Alberta (0-1) looks to get in the win column against Manitoba (0-1) at 7:00 p.m. MST.