Olen Zellweger Named to 2024 AHL All-Star Classic Presented By Tech CU
Jan 10, 2024The American Hockey League (AHL) announced today that San Diego Gulls defenseman Olen Zellweger has been named to the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Tech CU, to be held February 4-5 in San Jose, Calif.
Zellweger, 20 (9/10/23), becomes the first Gulls rookie to be named an All-Star since Kalle Kossila (2017, Lehigh Valley) and fourth in franchise history, joining Kossila, Nick Ritchie (2016, Syracuse) and Brandon Montour (2016, Syracuse).
Selected by Anaheim in the second round (34th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, the Calgary, Alberta native has tallied 6-16=22 points with 14 penalty minutes (PIM) and a +2 rating in 29 games with San Diego this season. At the time of the announcement, Zellweger ranks second among all AHL rookie defensemen in points, goals and assists. He also co-leads all AHL blueliners with three power-play goals this season.
The 5-foot-9, 175-pound defensemen was named the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Defenseman of the Year for his efforts in 2022-23 after he recorded 32-48=80 points with a +30 rating for the Everett Silvertips and Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL), leading league defensemen in goals. Zellweger also appeared in four Memorial Cup games for Kamloops, recording 1-3=4 points and earning a nomination to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team. Zellweger was named the WHL Defenseman of the Year in back-to-back seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23, becoming the fifth player in league history to do so. In 180 career WHL games with Everett and Kamloops, Zellweger posted 50-133=183 points with a +100 rating.
Zellweger helped Canada win gold at both the 2022 and 2023 World Junior Championships, recording 2-15=17 points in 14 career WJC games. Zellweger ranks second all-time in points by a Canadian defenseman at the tournament, trailing only Ryan Ellis (5-20=25 in 19 games). In 2022, he led all WJC defensemen in points (2-9=11 in seven games) and assists, led the tournament in plus/minus (+14), and was named to the WJC All-Star Team.