Follow your home team, Team Manitoba, from October 23 until November 9 at the U-16 WHL Cup (Calgary, AB) and National Women’s U-18 Championship (Morden/Winkler, MB). Visit the Team Manitoba Headquarters for news, rosters, schedules, results, standings and more. Also keep connected with Team Manitoba on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook!
U-16 Team Manitoba features the province's top male players born in 2004 which includes 18 Western Hockey League picks from the 2019 draft. Jeff Sveinson (Winnipeg) leads U-16 Team Manitoba behind the bench with Jordan Sobkowicz (Winnipeg) and Jordan Wohlgemuth (Winnipeg) as assistant coaches. Team Manitoba will compete at the WHL Cup hosted by the Western Hockey League October 23-27, 2019 in Calgary, AB.
About the WHL Cup:
The majority of players participating in the event will have been selected in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft or have since been listed by WHL Clubs. The WHL Cup, formerly known as the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup, has been sponsored since 2009 by the WHL and has been made possible through financial support provided by the WHL, Hockey Manitoba, BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, Saskatchewan Hockey Association and Hockey Canada.
This year will mark the eighth 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 2010, the WHL Cup was not contested due to the Canada Winter Games. In 2011, the Moose Jaw Warriors and Saskatchewan Hockey Association hosted the event at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw, Sask. In 2012, the tournament was hosted in Calgary at Father David Bauer Arena, the home of the WHL. In 2013, the tournament was again hosted in Calgary at Father David Bauer Arena. In 2014 and 2018, the WHL Cup was not contested due to the Canada Winter Games. Since 2015, the WHL Cup has been hosted in Calgary at the Markin MacPhail Centre.
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 won the event in 2012 and 2017.
About the U-16 Program of Excellence:
The U-16 Program of Excellence is the first step in the Hockey Canada Male Program of Excellence. Athletes who participate in the U-16 POE begin to receive the exposure to skills and concepts that are vital for success as the Major Junior, NCAA, USport and National levels. Many athletes from the U16 Program of Excellence go on to success with the U-17, U-18 and World Junior Teams as a part of the Hockey Canada Program of Excellence.
U-18 Team Manitoba features the province's top female players born in 2002-2003. Manitoba has consistently produced many elite athletes for Team Canada at the U-18, U-22, and Sr. National Women's Teams over the last decade. Rob Voth (Winnipeg) leads U-18 Team Manitoba behind the bench with Regan Boulton (Brandon) and Kelsi McGonigal (Winnipeg) as assistant coaches. Team Manitoba will compete at the National Women's U-18 Championship hosted by Hockey Canada November 5-9, 2019 in Morden/Winkler, MB.
About the National Women’s Under-18 Championship:
The National Women’s Under-18 Championship is held every year (excluding years where the Canada Winter Games take place), and features teams representing provinces and regions across the country. Ontario teams have won each of the 12 gold medals, while the host Manitobans will be looking to add a first national title to their two silver and three bronze medals. The tournament has long been the first step on the road to Canada’s National Women’s Team; 19 of the 23 players who helped Canada to a bronze medal at the 2019 IIHF Women’s World Championship are alumnae of the tournament, including all-time leading scorer Marie-Philip Poulin, who recorded 30 points in 15 games.
About the U-18 Program of Excellence:
The Female Program of Excellence is designed to provide high performance female players with the opportunity to develop advanced skills as well as an introduction to the concepts needed to play at an elite level. Players from the Program of Excellence go on to play at the CIS, NCAA and International level.
Hockey Manitoba is pleased to recognize Canad Inns, CCM Hockey, and the Western Hockey League as Official Partners of the Program of Excellence, along with Gatorade as the Official Sport Drink of Hockey Manitoba. The POE is our high performance program that offers developing athletes who are on track to be elite with the opportunity to represent their province while providing a solid development path to the National and International stages.
