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WHL Everett Silvertips

Olen Zellweger Officially Named to Hockey Canada Roster

December 12, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release


EVERETT, Wash. - Everett Silvertips defenseman Olen Zellweger has officially been named to Hockey Canada's final roster ahead of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in Moncton and Halifax.

Zellweger, 19, posted a historically good performance at the 2022 tournament, helping to lead Canada to gold in Edmonton this past August. He recorded two goals with nine assists for 11 points in seven games- one point shy of Alex Pietrangelo and Bryan McCabe's record for points by a Canadian defenseman. His +14 rating defensively led all skaters in the tournament.

At the time of departing for Selection Camp, the Anaheim Ducks prospect led all Western Hockey League defensemen in goals with 10, and ranked seventh in points with 27 in 22 games played. Fifteen of his points have come while on the powerplay, including 12 assists- a mark that leads all WHL defensemen.

This will be the fourth time that Olen Zellweger will represent his country on the international stage, having previously participated in the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship (gold), the 2021 Under-18 World Championship (gold) and the 2020 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge with Canada Red.

Silvertips general manager/head coach Dennis Williams, who won gold as an assistant coach in 2022, will take the reins as head coach of Hockey Canada for the 2023 World Juniors.

From Hockey Canada's official press release:

Among the 22 players are eight players who won a gold medal at the 2022 World Juniors in Edmonton (Bedard, Del Mastro, Gaucher, Ostapchuk, Othmann, Roy, Stankoven, Zellweger).

"We are excited to unveil the 22 players who have earned the opportunity to represent Canada at the World Juniors, as we believe we have assembled a deep and talented roster that will give us the best opportunity to defend gold on home ice," said Millar. "While there were many difficult decisions to make at selection camp, we want to congratulate our players and their families, and we look forward to them wearing the Maple Leaf with pride in Halifax and Moncton."

Canada's National Junior Team will practice at the Garcelon Civic Centre in St. Stephen, N.B., Dec. 14-18, prior to the start of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. It will also face off against Switzerland on Dec. 19, Slovakia on Dec. 21 and Finland on Dec. 23 as part of its pre-tournament schedule.

The 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Boxing Day with four games, including Canada taking on Czechia at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax at 7:30 p.m. AT. Canada will also take on Germany, Austria and Sweden to round out the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with the bronze and gold medal games on Jan. 5.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will once again provide extensive coverage of the event, broadcasting all 31 tournament games, as well as all three Team Canada pre-tournament games. TSN Radio will also provide comprehensive tournament coverage.

For more information on the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit the official tournament website at 2023.worldjuniors.hockey.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada's National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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