WHL Awards: Berezowski, Zellweger named first-team U.S. Division All-Stars; Seeley second-team
EVERETT, Wash. — Everett Silvertips forward Jackson Berezowski and defenseman Olen Zellweger have been named U.S. Division first-team All-Stars by the Western Hockey League Thursday afternoon. Defenseman Ronan Seeley has been listed to the U.S. Division’s second-team of All-Stars.
“It’s a very worthy honor for all three players,” said Silvertips head coach/general manager Dennis Williams. “I’m really proud of all of them. They’ve definitely elevated their game, and being recognized by their peers is the biggest compliment that you can get as an athlete. There’s a lot of good hockey players in the division, so be selected to the first or second team, it’s a real honor.”
Berezowski, an ’02-born Yorkton, SK native, finished third in the WHL in goal scoring with 46 on the season, trailing only Ben King of the Red Deer Rebels (52) and Connor Bedard of the Regina Pats (51). His 46 tallies rank second-best in Silvertips history, one off the single-season mark set in 2013-14 by Joshua Winquist. Berezowski finished with 79 total points (4th-most amongst U.S. Division forwards), including 14 powerplay goals (T-fifth-most in WHL) and nine game-winning goals (T-third most in WHL).
Zellweger, an ’03-born Fort Saskatchewan, AB native, led all WHL defensemen in scoring with 14 goals and 64 assists in 55 games played. His 64 assists were second-most in the WHL behind only Arshdeep Bains of the Red Deer Rebels, and were also just three less than the Silvertips’ franchise record of 67 set by Patrick Bajkov in 2017-18. The Anaheim Ducks prospect also led all U.S. Division defensemen in plus-minus (+45, T-third best amongst WHL d-men), powerplay points (34, second-most amongst WHL d-men) and shots-on-goal (229, T-third most amongst WHL d-men). His 1.42 points-per-game average ranks ninth overall amongst all WHL skaters.
He also shattered the Everett franchise record for points in a single season by a defenseman, a mark previously set by Kevin Davis in 2017-18 with 65.
Berezowski and Zellweger were each named Co-MVPs of the Silvertips at Everett’s Team Award Ceremony on Apr. 8.
Seeley, an ’02-born Olds, AB native, joined Zellweger as a representative of Hockey Canada at the 2022 World Junior Championship. Seeley finished with 11 goals (fourth-most amongst U.S. Division defensemen) and 33 assists (fourth-most amongst U.S. Division defensemen) in 53 games played this season. The Carolina Hurricanes prospect finished with 26 powerplay points, a mark that finishes fourth-highest in the U.S. Division for defensemen tied for seventh-most amongst all WHL d-men.
This is the second time that Seeley has been named to a U.S. Division All-Star team, cracking last season’s list alongside Portland’s Nick Cicek on the first team.
Seeley co-earned the Coach’s Award at the Silvertips’ Team Award Ceremony.
