Thunderbirds’ Ethan Bear named CHL Player of the Week
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Edmonton Oilers prospect Ethan Bear of the Seattle Thunderbirds is the CHL Player of the Week for the playoff week ending April 2 after scoring twice with five assists for seven points in two games with a plus-minus rating of plus-4.
Bear finished the first round of the 2017 WHL Playoffs with a pair of multi-point performances in two victories for the Thunderbirds who eliminated the Tri-City Americans in four straight games. In Game 3 last Wednesday night he delivered a career-high five points including two goals and three assists as first star of a 9-2 win, then chipped in two assists on Friday in Game 4’s 5-2 victory. The Thunderbirds will now face the Everett Silvertips in the WHL’s Western Conference Semi-Finals beginning Friday night.
A 19-year-old from Ochapowace, SK, Bear is playing in his fourth season in Seattle after being chosen by the club in the second round of the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft. The fifth round pick of the Oilers in the 2015 NHL Draft signed an entry-level contract with the club last summer before finishing third in scoring among defencemen with 70 points in 67 games including 28 goals and 42 assists during the 2016-17 regular season campaign.
Also considered for the award this week was New Jersey Devils prospect Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads who scored five goals and four assists for nine points in four games as part of a first round series win over the Ottawa 67’s, and Mathieu Nadeau of the Val-d’Or Foreurs who scored four goals and four assists for eight points in four games as part of a first round series upset over the Shawinigan Cataractes.
2016-17 CHL Post-Season Players of the Week:
Mar. 27 – Apr. 2: Ethan Bear (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Mar. 20 – Mar. 26: Sam Steel (Regina Pats)
2016-17 CHL Regular Season Players of the Week:
Mar. 13 – Mar. 19: Brandon Hagel (Red Deer Rebels)
Mar. 6 – Mar. 12: Daniel Sprong (Charlottetown Islanders)
Feb. 27 – Mar. 5: Gabriel Vilardi (Windsor Spitfires)
Feb. 20 – Feb. 26: Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads)
Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Christophe Boivin (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)
Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Jan. 30 – Feb. 5: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Jan. 23 – Jan. 29: Tyler Boland (Rimouski Oceanic)
Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: Alexis D’Aoust (Shawinigan Cataractes)
Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Kole Sherwood (Flint Firebirds)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Brayden Burke (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Adam Brooks (Regina Pats)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Vitalii Abramov (Gatineau Olympiques)
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Hayden Hodgson (Saginaw Spirit)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Sergey Zborovskiy (Regina Pats)
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Jayden Halbgewachs (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Alexander Katerinakis (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Nico Hischier (Halifax Mooseheads)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Bobby MacIntyre (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Jeremy Bracco (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Cameron Askew (Moncton Wildcats)
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Sam Steel (Regina Pats)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 25: Kameron Kielly (Charlottetown Islanders)