Blazers acquire Olen Zellweger, Ryan Hofer in WHL blockbuster

Photo: Hockey Canada

Olen Zellweger shown playing for Canada in the recent world junior championship.

The Kamloops Blazers have announced a big trade on Sunday night.

The Blazers have acquired 19-year-old defenceman Olen Zellweger and 20-year-old forward Ryan Hofer in exchange for 17-year-old defenceman Kaden Hammell, 20-year-old forward Drew Englot, 17-year-old defenceman prospect Rylan Pearce, 15-year-old forward prospect Jack Bakker and nine WHL Prospect draft picks, as well as one conditional draft pick.

Zellweger is from Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., 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 five-foot-10 and 182-pound blue-liner won the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as WHL Defenceman 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.

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 six-foot-three and 192-pound 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,” said Blazers general manager 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."

The WHL trade deadline is on Tuesday. The Blazers will host this year's Memorial Cup, which gets underway at the end of May.