Team British Columbia celebrates its 5-2 victory over Team Alberta in the 2021 WHL Cup gold medal game at the Peavey Mart Centrium in Red Deer on Sunday. (Rob Wallator/WHL)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Alberta Takes Silver

B.C. wins 2021 WHL Cup in Red Deer

Oct 24, 2021 | 5:19 PM

Another Team Alberta comeback fell just short on Sunday, as Team BC took gold at the 2021 WHL Cup with a 5-2 win.

After a scoreless opening period at the Peavey Mart Centrium, BC got on the board first just over a minute into the second period, before Gavin Garland evened things up with his third of the tournament five minutes later.

BC would score again late in the second, and took a 2-1 lead into the third after netminder Jesse Sanche stopped Alberta forward Zane Saab on a penalty shot.

Five minutes into the third, BC took a 3-1 lead, but Alberta made it a one goal game once again as Garrett Thom scored on a short-handed breakaway with just over five minutes to go in regulation.

BC shut the door from there, and scored two empty-net goals to take it 5-2.

Last seen March 31

Missing: Eugenie Headman, 66, of Maskwacis

15h ago

mayor hopes to meet housing minister this month

Alberta demands Ottawa back off on housing funding stripped from Red Deer

Apr 02, 2026

Last seen Jan. 15

Missing: Courtney Cattleman, 17, of Maskwacis

Apr 02, 2026

Netminder Madden Mulawka stood tall in goal for Team Alberta, stopping 32 of 35 shots, while his counterpart Sanche made 30 saves for the win.

Mulawka was named Alberta’s Player of the Game for the second straight day, while defenceman Keith McInnis was named a WHL Cup All-Star for his efforts throughout the tournament.

“I couldn’t have done it without my teammates,” said McInnis after the game. “This tournament alone is hard, you’ve got to come together in five days, but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. Everything happened because of them. We battled hard together. We became a family and I will cherish that forever.”

Team Alberta head coach Serge Lajoie described McInnis as professional and mature.

“Tremendous skill set on the ice obviously, really good leader, leads by example, does and says the right things. So a player that I’m excited to follow his journey as he moves up the ranks,” said Lajoie.

He admits the loss was hard for the team, but notes the players truly bought into the family type of environment they were trying to create for them.

“I was really happy with the way we played. A couple bounces here and there, could have been a different outcome,” he surmised. “But it was never about the outcome. It was about the process for us and trying to help them grow as much as possible and get as much out of this experience as they could.”

Team B.C. head coach Jamie Jackson said he couldn’t put into words how proud he was of his team’s effort throughout the tournament.

“Our mission this time around was to make sure that we did this together, and they sure did. They did it together,” he exclaimed. “We knew this was going to be a tough one and we had to match our preparation to theirs, so we spent hours and hours making sure that we were ready and the players were ready and the kids got it done.”

Jackson said he was most proud that they were able to have everyone involved.

“I don’t think that we left anybody behind today or all week. What an accomplishment for everybody to be involved in a game like that.”