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WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners

April 24, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Kamloops Blazers defenceman Olen Zellweger has been named WHL Player of the Week for the week ending April 23, 2023.

The Anaheim Ducks prospect, who led all WHL skaters with nine points (3G-6A) from his two games played this past week, tied a WHL Playoffs record for points in a game by a defenceman with seven (3G-4A) Thursday, April 20 at Portland.

The product of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. began his week with two assists Wednesday, April 19 as the Blazers upended the Winterhawks 3-2 in Game 3 of their Second Round series.

The following evening, the 19-year-old became the first WHL defenceman to score a post-season hat-trick in 14 years, adding four assists as part of his record-tying evening as Kamloops won their series with Portland with a 10-4 triumph.

Zellweger earned First Star honours in Thursday's contest.

In eight post-season appearances this spring, the 5-foot-10, 182-pound rearguard sits tied for the League lead in points, compiling 21 on the strength of seven goals and 14 assists.

Zellweger was originally selected by the Everett Silvertips in the second round of the 2018 WHL Draft and acquired by the Blazers in January of 2023; in 194 WHL regular season and playoff appearances, he has totalled 213 points (59G-154A).

He was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft and signed an entry-level contract with the NHL Club in August of 2021.

Olen Zellweger and the Kamloops Blazers will face the Seattle Thunderbirds in the 2023 WHL Western Conference Championship presented by Nutrien, with Game 1 scheduled for Saturday, April 29 (6:05 p.m. PT, accesso ShoWare Center).

THUNDERBIRDS NETMINDER MILIC NAMED WHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

The Western Hockey League announced today that Seattle Thunderbirds goaltender Thomas Milic has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending April 23, 2023.

The 2023 NHL Draft prospect posted a 1.50 goals-against average and .932 save percentage over his two road victories this past week, helping the Thunderbirds complete a Second Round sweep of the Prince George Cougars to advance to the 2023 WHL Western Conference Championship.

Milic, who hails from Coquitlam, B.C., began his week by stopping 19 of 20 shots in an 8-1 Seattle victory at Prince George in Game 3 of their Second Round series Tuesday, April 18.

The following evening, Milic made 22 saves as the Thunderbirds closed out the best-of-seven series with an 8-2 win.

In eight appearances during the 2023 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound puck-stopper owns an 8-0 record to go along with a League-best 1.13 goals-against average and .953 save percentage.

Milic, 20, was originally selected by the Thunderbirds in the third round of the 2018 WHL Draft. He holds a career 82-32-5-3 record, a 2.26 goals-against average, .921 save percentage and 11 shutouts over 124 WHL regular season and playoff outings.

Thomas Milic and the Seattle Thunderbirds will face the Kamloops Blazers in the 2023 WHL Western Conference Championship presented by Nutrien, with Game 1 scheduled for Saturday, April 29 (6:05 p.m. PT, accesso ShoWare Center).

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