Captain Dayne Beuker scored two goals, including the game winner, as Team Saskatchewan cruised to a 6-2 victory over Team B.C. to claim the Bronze Medal at the 2023 WHL Cup presented by FPS Payment.
Beuker (Lethbridge Hurricanes / Humboldt, Sask.) scored his fifth goal of the tournament 12:45 into the second period, giving Saskatchewan a commanding 3-0 lead, following on the heels of two goals from Carson Deichert (Moose Jaw Warriors / Moose Jaw, Sask.).
Liam Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers / Osoyoos, B.C.) scored his seventh goal of the tournament 4:02 into the third period to get B.C. on the board and cut the lead to 3-1. But Saskatchewan answered right back with two quick goals from Jonah Sivertson (Prince Albert Raiders / Regina, Sask.) and Beckett Hamilton (Red Deer Rebels / Saskatoon, Sask.) to build a 5-1 lead.
Joe Iginla (Edmonton Oil Kings / Lake Country, B.C.) recorded his first goal of the tournament, but it wasn’t enough to spur a Team B.C. comeback and Beuker iced the game with an empty-net goal, his sixth tally of the tournament.
Goaltender Jackson Dunn (Regina, Sask.) made 26 saves on 28 shots to backstop Team Saskatchewan.
This is the third consecutive WHL Cup in which Saskatchewan has earned a medal. In 2021, it was a Bronze Medal finish for the Land of Living Skies while 2019 saw Saskatchewan claim Gold.
Beuker finished the 2023 WHL Cup as Saskatchewan’s scoring leader, having registered seven points (6G-1A) in five games. Kash Alger-East (Victoria Royals / Meadow Lake, Sask.) was second in scoring for Saskatchewan, chipping in with six assists.
