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WHL Everett Silvertips

Ronan Seeley, Olen Zellweger Make Final Roster for Hockey Canada

December 17, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release


EVERETT, Wash. - Everett Silvertips defensemen Ronan Seeley and Olen Zellweger have officially been named to the final roster for Hockey Canada ahead of the 2022 World Junior Championship.

The pair of Tips defenders are part of a 25-man roster to represent Canada in Red Deer and Edmonton at the World Juniors. Eight total defenders were selected by Canada, with two other WHL defensemen also making the cut (Kaiden Guhle, Prince Albert and Carson Lambos, Winnipeg).

Seeley and Zellweger are just the fifth and sixth players in Silvertips history to play for Hockey Canada in the World Juniors, along with goaltender Leland Irving (2007), defenseman Ryan Murray (2012), defenseman Noah Juulsen (2017) and goaltender Carter Hart (2017-18).

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so I didn't want to mess up but at the same time I couldn't let it slip away," Ronan Seeley told media upon selection. "Words can't even describe it, it's a surreal experience."

Seeley found out he had made the final roster for Hockey Canada via a knock on the door and a handshake from Silvertips head coach and Hockey Canada assistant coach Dennis Williams.

"It was a special moment with him, for sure," Seeley noted. "To have [Williams and Olen Zellweger] there for comfort and support, it was super helpful."

"To see Ronan's game from day one to now, it's just a testament to who he is not just as a player, but as a person," said Dennis Williams, who will be handling defensive coaching responsibilities with Hockey Canada. "His commitment to his craft, wanting to be better, wanting to be the best player, has given this opportunity."

Olen Zellweger discovered his selection in a similar fashion: a knock on the door and a simple question. "Are you ready to win another World Championship together?"

"Earning your spot on this team is the last thing you're going to do as an individual."

Zellweger earned a Gold Medal for Hockey Canada at the 2021 U-18 World Junior Championship in Texas, accumulating eight points in seven games along the way. He impressed with his scoring touch in Selection Camp for Canada, notching a primary assist and a goal in a pair of exhibition games against U SPORTS players. He is expected to play on the right side on the top pair for Canada alongside Owen Power.

"Olen Zellweger is arguably one of the hardest working players I've ever seen in my life," Williams explained. "He doesn't leave the rink.... He's always on the SuperDeker [electronic stickhandling training tool] or doing something. Both [Seeley and Zellweger], we can't be more happy for and proud of those two."

"[W]e believe this group will give us the best chance to win a gold medal on home ice," said Hockey Canada's director of player personnel Alan Millar. "We were impressed with the level of competition at camp, and we knew we were going to have to make difficult decisions when it came time to name a final roster."

The 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Boxing Day with Canada kicking off its tournament schedule against fellow Everett Silvertip Michal Gut and the Czech Republic. In addition to its opening-night match-up, Canada will also play Austria on December 28, Germany on December 29 and Finland on December 31 to wrap up preliminary-round action. All Team Canada games will be played at 5:00 p.m. MT.

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

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