World Juniors Bound – Olen Zellweger
NAME: Olen Zellweger
WHL CLUB: Everett Silvertips
HOMETOWN: Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.
NHL CLUB: Anaheim Ducks
One of two Everett Silvertips defencemen named to Team Canada’s 25-man roster for the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta., Olen Zellweger brings international pedigree and offensive flair to a blueline laden with WHL talent.
Zellweger’s most recent international duty saw him compete with the Canadian squad that captured a gold medal at the 2021 IIHF U-18 World Championship in Texas this past spring. The 18-year-old finished that event in a share of the scoring lead among defencemen, posting eight points in seven outings.
The Silvertips rearguard sits fourth among WHL blueliners with 27 points (7G-20A) this season, a total that includes a five-point effort December 3 against the Tri-City Americans.
The product of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. was a second-round selection by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2021 NHL Draft. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Ducks this past August.
More than half of Zellweger’s 52 career WHL points have come during the 2021-22 season, as Everett finished the first half of the campaign atop the Western Conference with a 21-6-2-1 record.
Zellweger is also one of seven Albertans on the Canadian roster, including his Silvertips teammate Ronan Seeley.