Olen Zellweger
{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 2003)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| alt = Anaheim Ducks defenseman, Olen Zellweger, on a float during the Ducks Parade at their annual Anaheim Ducks Day at Disneyland Park
| name = Olen Zellweger
| image = File:Olen Zellweger at Dux In Tux 2025.png
| caption = Anaheim Ducks defenceman Olen Zellweger at the 24th annual Dux In Tux Gala
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|09|10}}
| birth_place = Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 9
| weight_lb = 174
| position = Defence
| shoots = Left
| league = NHL
| team = Anaheim Ducks
| prospect_team =
| prospect_league = AHL
| former_teams =
| ntl_team = CAN
| draft = 34th overall
| draft_year = 2021
| draft_team = Anaheim Ducks
}}
Olen Zellweger (born September 10, 2003) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the second round, 34th overall, by the Ducks in the 2021 NHL entry draft.{{cite web|title=Olen Zellweger|url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/476596/olen-zellweger|access-date=January 27, 2024|publisher=Elite Prospects}}
Early life
Although, Zellweger was born in Calgary, he was raised in Bonnyville, Alberta. He won an Atom (Under-11 Age Division) AA championship on the Bonnyville Pontiacs. He never got in trouble as a child and his heroes were his parents.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-13 |title=A Closer Look: Olen Zellweger {{!}} Anaheim Ducks |url=https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/a-closer-look-olen-zellweger |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=www.nhl.com |language=en}}
Playing career
Zellweger was selected by the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in the second round of 2018 prospect draft. He made his debut with the Silvertips at the age of 16 during the 2019–20 season. He played in 148 games for Everett registering 28 goals and 103 assists. He won the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as WHL defenceman of the year in 2021–22, marking the first time a Silvertips player won that trophy.{{cite web |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/sports/tips-blockbuster-everett-deals-zellweger-hofer-to-kamloops/ |title=Tips blockbuster: Everett deals Zellweger, Hofer to Kamloops |last=Patterson |first=Nick |work=The Herald |date=January 8, 2023 |access-date=January 29, 2024}}
He was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the second round, 34th overall, of the 2021 NHL entry draft. Zellweger signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Ducks on August 13, 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/ducks-sign-draftees-mctavish-zellweger-pastujov-to-entry-level-contrac-325964906|title=Ducks Sign Draftees McTavish, Zellweger, Pastujov to Entry-Level Deals |publisher=Anaheim Ducks |date=August 13, 2021 |access-date=January 27, 2024}} Later that season he would make his professional debut with the San Diego Gulls, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Ducks, playing a single playoff game and recording one assist.
For the 2022–23 season, Zellweger returned to the Everett Silvertips of the WHL. On January 8, 2023, Zellweger, along with Ryan Hofer were traded to the Memorial Cup hosting Kamloops Blazers in exchange for four players and ten draft picks.{{cite web |url=https://chl.ca/whl-silvertips/trade-silvertips-send-zellweger-hofer-to-kamloops-for-four-players-ten-picks/ |title=Trade: Silvertips send Zellweger, Hofer to Kamloops for four players, ten picks |publisher=Everett Silvertips |date=January 8, 2023 |access-date=January 27, 2024}} Though the Blazers were eliminated from the Memorial Cup, Zellweger was named to the tournament's all-star team.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/ahl-notebook-clarke-zellweger-among-top-young-defensemen |title=AHL notebook: Clarke, Zellweger among top young defensemen |publisher=National Hockey League |date=December 7, 2023 |access-date=January 29, 2024}} He would go on to win his second Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy at the end of the year, the sixth Blazer to win the trophy.{{cite web |url=https://chl.ca/whl-blazers/zellweger-named-recipient-of-bill-hunter-memorial-trophy-as-whl-defenceman-of-the-year-for-2022-23-presented-by-remax/ |title=Zellweger named recipient of Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as WHL Defenceman of the Year for 2022-23 presented by RE/MAX |publisher=Kamloops Blazers |via=Canadian Hockey League |date=May 9, 2023 |access-date=January 29, 2024}} He was named to the Canadian Hockey League's (CHL) First All-Star team alongside Blazers' teammate Logan Stankoven,{{cite web |url=https://leaderpost.com/sports/hockey/regina-pats/sports-pats-all-stars |title=Pats' Bedard, Svozil, Suzdalev named to CHL All-Star teams |newspaper=Regina Leader-Post |date=June 1, 2023 |access-date=January 29, 2024}} and CHL Defenceman of the Year.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/regina-pats-phenom-connor-bedard-makes-history-at-chl-awards/article_05ba5a21-3355-5321-9787-6ceb28ebf71e.html |title=Regina Pats phenom Connor Bedard makes history at CHL Awards |newspaper=Toronto Star |first=Abdulhamid |last=Ibrahim |agency=The Canadian Press |date=June 3, 2023 |access-date=January 29, 2024}}
For the 2023–24 season, Zellweger again joined the San Diego Gulls, where he was named to the AHL All-Star Game. On January 23, 2024, Zellweger was called up to the Anaheim Ducks.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/ducks-recall-defenseman-zellweger-from-san-diego|title=Ducks Recall Defenseman Zellweger from San Diego |publisher=Anaheim Ducks |date=January 23, 2024 |access-date=January 27, 2024}} He made his debut that night recording one assist in a win over the Buffalo Sabres.{{cite web |url=https://thehockeynews.com/ahl/game-day/anaheim-ducks-prospect-olen-zellweger-makes-nhl-debut-earns-first-point-in-win-against-buffalo-sabres |title=Anaheim Ducks Prospect Olen Zellweger Makes NHL Debut. Earns First Point in Win Against Buffalo Sabres |work=The Hockey News |last=Collins |first=Dillon |date=January 24, 2024 |access-date=January 29, 2024}} After four games, he was sent back to San Diego, where he represented the team at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic.{{cite web |url=https://www.sandiegogulls.com/news/detail/san-diego-gulls-all-star-recap-february-6-2024 |title=Olen Zellweger Shines Bright in 2024 All-Star Classic |publisher=San Diego Gulls |last=Aguilera |first=Nick |date=February 6, 2024 |access-date=February 10, 2025}} Zellweger was recalled again by Anaheim on March 1 and was leading all AHL rookie defencemen in goals, points and tied for the lead in assists and was third overall in overall rookie scoring, with 12 goals, 25 assists for 37 points in 44 games with San Diego.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/ducks-recall-defenseman-zellweger-from-ahl-san-diego |title=Ducks Recall Defenseman Zellweger from AHL San Diego |publisher=Anaheim Ducks |via=NHL.com |date=March 1, 2024 |access-date=February 10, 2025}} He scored his first NHL goal on March 31 beating goaltender Artūrs Šilovs of the Vancouver Canucks.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/ducks-olen-zellweger-nets-first-nhl-goal/ |title=Ducks' Olen Zellweger: Nets first NHL goal |work=CBS Sports |date=March 31, 2024 |access-date=November 14, 2024}} He finished the season with Anaheim, scoring two goals and nine points in 26 games.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/anaheim-ducks-2024-25-season-preview |title=Ducks season preview: Gauthier, Carlsson seek to add scoring boost |last=Morreale |first=Mike G. |publisher=National Hockey League |website=NHL.com |date=September 16, 2024 |access-date=February 10, 2025}}
International play
{{MedalTableTop|name=}}
{{MedalSport|Ice hockey}}
{{MedalCountry|{{ihj|CAN}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Junior Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2022 Canada|}}
{{MedalGold|2023 Canada|}}
{{MedalCompetition|World U18 Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2021 United States|}}
{{MedalBottom}}
Zellweger made his international debut for Canada with the national under-18 team at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships. He registered eight points in Team Canada's seven-game tournament, which saw them defeat Russia for the gold medal.{{cite web|title=Zellweger Wins Gold at 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship|url=https://chl.ca/whl-silvertips/zellweger-wins-gold-at-2021-iihf-u18-world-championship/|website=Canadian Hockey League|date=May 6, 2021|access-date=May 7, 2024}}
Six months later, Zellweger was selected to play for the national junior team at the initial 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships that took place beginning in December 2021. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament was postponed until August, with all individual statistics retained but the team results erased.{{cite web |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/driven-motivated-zellweger-looking-for-more-hardware-with-canada-at-world-juniors-1.6197792 |title='Driven, motivated' Zellweger looking for more hardware with Canada at world juniors |work=CTV News |last=Clipperton |first=Joshua |agency=The Canadian Press |date=December 16, 2022 |access-date=January 29, 2024}} In the new tournament in August 2022, Zellweger played an important role in Team Canada's gold medal win, and was named to the tournament's All-Star Team.{{cite web |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/world-juniors-team-canada-finalizes-roster-bedard-wright-fantilli-stankoven-zellweger-004702317.html |title=Canada finalizes world juniors roster with some NHL adds, surprising cuts |work=Yahoo! Sports |last=Kennedy |first=Ian |date=December 12, 2022 |access-date=January 29, 2024}} He rejoined Team Canada for the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, which saw the national team win its twentieth World Junior gold.{{cite web |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9391273/canada-world-junior-fold-czechia/ |title=Canada claims 20th World Junior gold after 3-2 win against Czechia |last=Clipperton |first=Joshua |agency=The Canadian Press |work=Global News |date=January 5, 2023 |access-date=January 29, 2024}}
Following the conclusion of the 2023–24 NHL season, Zellweger accepted an invitation to make his senior national team debut at the 2024 IIHF World Championship.{{cite web|title=Bedard, Celebrini highlight Canada's roster at the World Championship|url=https://www.tsn.ca/hockey-canada/connor-bedard-macklin-celebrini-highlight-canada-s-roster-at-the-world-championship-1.2114972|website=TSN|date=May 3, 2024|access-date=May 7, 2024}}
Career statistics
=Regular season and playoffs=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="102" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="102" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5"|Playoffs | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||||||
| 2018–19
| WHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2019–20 | Everett Silvertips | WHL | 58 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 8
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21
| Everett Silvertips | WHL | 11 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 2
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2021–22 | Everett Silvertips | WHL | 55 | 14 | 64 | 78 | 23
| 6 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 4 |
| 2021–22
| AHL | — | — | — | — | —
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2022–23 | Everett Silvertips | WHL | 23 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 12
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022–23
| WHL | 32 | 22 | 30 | 52 | 28
| 14 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 10 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2023–24 | San Diego Gulls | AHL | 44 | 12 | 25 | 37 | 16
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24
| NHL | 26 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 4
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2024–25 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 62 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 20
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" |NHL totals ! 88 !! 9 !! 20 !! 29 !! 24 ! — !! — !! — !! — !! — |
=International=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em" | ||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="102" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||
| 2019
| Canada Red | U17 | 5th | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2021 | Canada | U18 | {{gold1}} | 7 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 2 |
| 2022
| Canada | WJC | {{gold1}} | 7 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2023 | Canada | WJC | {{gold1}} | 7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
| 2024
| Canada | WC | 4th | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4"| Junior totals ! 26 !! 3 !! 24 !! 27 !! 10 | ||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4"| Senior totals ! 10 !! 0 !! 5 !! 5 !! 2 |
Awards and honours
| class="wikitable"
! Award ! Year ! Ref |
| ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4" |CHL |
| CHL Defenceman of the Year
| 2023 |
| First All-Star Team
| 2023 |
| Memorial Cup All-Star Team
| 2023 |
| ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4" |WHL |
| Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy |
| US First All-Star Team
| 2022 | |
| BC First All-Star Team
| 2023 | |
| ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4" |International |
| World Junior Championship Media All-Star Team
| 2022 |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Ice hockey stats}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zellweger, Olen}}
Category:Anaheim Ducks draft picks
Category:Anaheim Ducks players
Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
Category:Canadian ice hockey defencemen
Category:Everett Silvertips players
Category:Kamloops Blazers players
Category:Ice hockey people from Calgary