Olen Zellweger with the 2022-23 CHL Defenceman of the Year Award. (Photo via Allen Douglas)
Olen Zellweger has been named the Canadian Hockey League Defenceman of the Year for the 2022-23 season.
The two-time WHL Defenceman of the Year beat out fellow Anaheim Ducks prospects Pavel Mintyukov of the Ottawa 67’s, and Tristen Luneau of the Gatineau Olympiques to become the fourth Blazer to be named the top defenceman in the CHL.
Zellweger is the first Blazer to win this award since Micki Dupont in the 1999-2000 season, with Nolan Baumgartner (1994-95) and Greg Hawgood (1987-88) the other two.
“It’s a huge honour. A lot of work goes into it with my teammates, coaching staff and support system, my family and billets, and everyone else involved,” Zellweger said following the win Saturday.
“It’s an honour to receive the award and its just a step in the right direction for the future.”
What a year, what a player. Congrats Olen on your CHL Defenceman of the Year award! https://t.co/oO8MKBvZFE
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) June 3, 2023
A native of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., Zellweger set new personal bests in goals (32) and points (80) to lead all Western Conference defencemen in scoring over the course of the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season. A majority of those goals (22) and points (52) came following the Blazers’ blockbuster Jan. 8 trade with the Everett Silvertips.
Zellweger was also tied for second place in WHL playoff scoring this season with 29 points in 14 games, one behind teammate Logan Stankoven’s 30.
“The coaching staff [in Kamloops] really encouraged me to be offensive and use the skillset that I have to produce offensively,” Zellweger said, when asked about his offensive prowess this season.
“We had a lot of great offensive players up front and that really helps when you can play with those guys night in, night out.”
CHL Defenceman of the Year. @OlenZellweger 🏆 pic.twitter.com/16wZgaHLFP
— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) June 3, 2023
Stankoven, a Kamloops native, was up for the CHL’s Humanitarian of the Year Award, but lost out to eventual winner Dalyn Wakely of the North Bay Battalion.
Both Stankoven and Zellweger were named to the 2022-23 CHL First All-Star Team this week. While they can both return to Kamloops for their overage WHL season this fall, they’re expected to both begin their professional careers.
“I’ll remember Kamloops forever,” Zellweger said. “It’s such a great organization and the fans are unbelievable.”
“Those games in the playoffs and the Memorial Cup were electric for us. It’s pretty awesome to experience that and feel that passion in the city. It was pretty special.”
