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WHL Everett Silvertips

Tips F Cole Fonstad, D Olen Zellweger Named to National Events for Canada, Team WHL

October 16, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release


EVERETT, Wash. - The Everett Silvertips (@WHLSilvertips), seven-time U.S. Division champion and two-time Western Conference champion of the Western Hockey League, announced in conjunction with the WHL and Canadian Hockey League that Silvertips center Cole Fonstad has been named to Team WHL for the upcoming 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series, Nov. 13-14 in Saskatoon and Prince Albert, Sask, and in conjunction with Hockey Canada that defenseman Olen Zellweger (Zell-WAY-gher) has been named to the roster for Team Canada in the upcoming World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, hosting 66 of the top young players in the nation for a seven-day event, Nov. 2-9, in Medicine Hat, Alberta and Swift Current, Sask.

Fonstad, Zellweger, and the Silvertips continue play tonight, when a five-game homestand continues against the Brandon Wheat Kings, 7:05 p.m. (KRKO / WHL Live) at Angel of the Winds Arena in downtown Everett.

Silvertips Center Cole Fonstad Available for Tips Debut Tonight and Named to Team WHL Roster for Upcoming 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series

Fonstad is available to make his debut for the Silvertips tonight after being acquired by the Silvertips from Prince Albert on Oct. 13. Last season he helped Prince Albert capture the WHL title last season and a berth in the Memorial Cup and was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the fifth round (128th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft.

Fonstad joins Team WHL as part of an assortment of NHL prospects from Canada selected in the NHL Draft or eligible for the 2020 NHL Draft, scheduled to compete against the Russian National Junior Team. Team WHL is part of a selection process including prospects from the Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, vying for a roster spot with Team Canada at the upcoming World Junior Championships. Fonstad's selection marks the fifth straight season the Silvertips will be represented in the event, joining Noah Juulsen (2015-16), goaltender Carter Hart (2015-17), and forwards Riley Sutter and Connor Dewar (2018).

Fonstad, a 2000-born forward currently in his fourth full WHL season, arrives in Everett with nine points (2g-7a) in nine games this season and last year helped guide the Raiders to the league championship, ranking third on the program with 73 points (29g-44a), third in assists (44), second in power play assists (14), and fourth in power play points (19) in 67 games. His 73 points matched his career high previously set in 2017-18 with the Raiders when he also led the club with 52 assists, appearing in all 72 games.

En route to the WHL title, the native of Estevan, Saskatchewan earned six points (2g-4a) in 21 postseason games, had a goal and an assist in the WHL Championship Series against Vancouver, and earned a goal and a pair of assists in three Memorial Cup games. He has 11 points (6g-5a) in 28 career WHL Playoff games and earned an invite by Team Canada to the 2019 World Junior Summer Showcase, a step in the roster selection process for upcoming IIHF World Junior Championship.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound forward has notched 182 points (63g-119a), a +23 rating, and 11 game winning goals in 219 career WHL games.

Silvertips Defenseman Olen Zellweger to Represent Hockey Canada at World U17 Hockey Challenge

The process began with 112 players invited to participate in Team Canada's national under-17 development camp in July, and were introduced to Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence. The 66-player overall roster, including Zellweger, will be divided into three teams: Team Canada Black, Red, and White, and will compete against the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden, and United States in pursuit of a gold medal.

Zellweger, a 2003-born defenseman, has a +4 rating and has fired ten shots on net in his first eight career WHL games as a Silvertip. The Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta native was the Silvertips first selection in the 2018 WHL Draft, coming in the second round (42ndoverall) and last season was second among defensemen with 27 points (8g-19a) in 35 games with OHA Edmonton Prep (CSSHL), also leading the program's blueliners with 19 assists and tied for the lead among defensemen with four points (1g-3a) in five postseason games.

Last season, Zellweger suited up for Team Alberta at the 2018-19 Canada Winter Games and had a goal and an assist in six games. In 2017-18, he led OHA Edmonton Bantam Prep (CSSBHL) for scoring among defensemen with 32 points (10g-22a) in 30 games, while adding five points (3g-2a) in five postseason games and helping guide the program to a league title. He carried eight multi point games through the regular season from the blueline.

That season, Zellweger also skated in the Alberta Cup (Team Edmonton Blue) and earned a goal and an assist in five games.

The tournament opens with all three Canadian teams in action Saturday, November 2 (6pm PT); Team Canada Red takes on Russia at the Innovation Credit Union i-Plex in Swift Current and Team Canada Black faces off against Team Canada White at the Canalta Centre in Medicine Hat. TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will air the semifinal in Medicine Hat on Friday, November 8, as well as the bronze and gold medal games on Saturday, November 9; please check local listings for details.

Prior to the start of play, the teams will take to the ice for pre-tournament games on Thursday, October 31, (6pm PT). Team Canada Black will match up against Finland at the Crescent Point Wickenheiser Centre in Shaunavon, Sask., Sweden will play the Czech Republic at the Centennial Regional Arena in Brooks, Alta., Team Canada White will face off against Russia at the Innovation Credit Union i-Plex in Swift Current and Team Canada Red will meet the United States at the Canalta Centre in Medicine Hat.

More than 1,800 NHL draft picks have suited up since the inception of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (previously known as the Quebec Esso Cup) in 1986, including 14 first-overall draft picks since 2001 (Ilya Kovalchuk, 2001; Rick Nash, 2002; Marc-André Fleury, 2003; Alexander Ovechkin, 2004; Erik Johnson, 2006; Patrick Kane, 2007; John Tavares, 2009; Taylor Hall, 2010, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 2011; Nathan MacKinnon, 2013; Aaron Ekblad, 2014; Connor McDavid, 2015; Auston Matthews, 2016; Jack Hughes, 2019).

The Silvertips were represented in the event last year with defenseman Ronan Seeley, and head coach Dennis Williams.

2019-20 TICKET INFORMATION

The Tips ticket packages are on sale now, available at www.everettsilvertips.com/season or by calling (425) 252-5100 during normal business hours.

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 16, 2019


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