BLAZERS ACQUIRE OLEN ZELLWEGER AND RYAN HOFER – Kamloops Blazers
KAMLOOPS BLAZERS ACQUIRE OLEN ZELLWEGER AND RYAN HOFER
Kamloops, BC – The Kamloops Blazers have acquired 19-year-old defenseman Olen Zellweger and 20-year-old forward Ryan Hofer in exchange for 17-year-old defenseman Kaden Hammell, 20-year-old forward Drew Englot, 17-year-old defenseman prospect Rylan Pearce, 15-year-old forward prospect Jack Bakker and nine WHL Prospect draft picks and one conditional draft pick.
The WHL Prospects draft picks the Blazers have sent to Everett are the following: 1st round 2023, 2nd round 2023, 4th round 2023, 1st round 2024, 5th round 2024, 1st round 2025, 3rd round 2025, 1st round 2026, 6th round 2026 and a conditional 2nd round 2026.
Zellweger is from Fort Saskatchewan, AB and is a second round NHL Draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks. He has 10 goals, 18 assists and 28 points in 23 games this season.
The 5’10” and 182lb defenseman won the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as WHL Defenseman of the Year in the 2021-22 season. He led all WHL defensemen in scoring with 14 goals, 64 assists and 78 points in 55 games. In 148 career WHL games, he has 28 goals, 103 assists and 131 points.
Zellweger has won three Gold Medals with Hockey Canada over the past three seasons. He had eight points in seven games at the 2021 Under-18 World Championships. He also won back-to-back Gold Medals at the 2022 and 2023 World Junior Championships where he had two goals, 15 assists and 17 points over 14 games.
Hofer is from Winnipeg and is a sixth round NHL Draft pick of the Washington Capitals. He has 23 goals, 13 assists and 36 points in 36 games this season.
The 6’3” and 192lb forward is in his third WHL season. In 125 career WHL games he has 54 goals, 49 assists and 103 points. He also added six goals, four assists and 10 points in six games in the 2022 WHL playoffs.
“We would like to thank Drew and Kaden for their commitment and time with our hockey club,” commented General Manager / Head Coach Shaun Clouston. “We’d like to wish Drew, Kaden, Rylan and Jack the best in their future endeavours. We’d also like to welcome Olen and Ryan to our hockey club,” concluded Clouston.
The Kamloops Blazers next home game is on Wednesday, January 11th against the Vancouver Giants. For tickets, call the Kamloops Blazers Box Office at 250-828-3339 or they can also be purchased online at this link.
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