Ducks Make NHL/CHL History as Zellweger Wins WHL Defenseman of the Year

The Ducks made NHL and CHL history on Tuesday, becoming the first team to have its prospects win the Defenseman of the Year award in all three Canadian Hockey Leagues.

Olen Zellweger completed the sweep Tuesday afternoon, joining fellow Anaheim prospects Pavel Mintyukov (OHL) and Tristan Luneau (QMJHL).

Zellweger became the sixth defenseman in Western Hockey League (WHL) history to repeat as Defenseman of the Year, this season pacing all WHL defenders in goals and finishing second in scoring.

Video: Anaheim Rising Prospect Report: Olen Zellweger

"I am very honoured to receive the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as WHL Defenceman of the Year," Zellweger said via the WHL's official release. "Congratulations to all the other nominees for having great seasons.

"I want to thank the Everett Silvertips and Kamloops Blazers, my teammates, coaching staff, parents and everyone who supported me this season. Without them, it would not have been possible."

Zellweger was acquired by the Memorial Cup-hosting Kamloops Blazers on Jan. 8 as the headliner in a package that included 10 draft picks. He totaled 52 points and a +35 rating in 32 regular-season games as a Blazer, helping guide Kamloops to a B.C. Division title.

With Zellweger crowned the top blueliner in the WHL, the CHL's Defenseman of the Year finalists are all Anaheim prospects, guaranteeing a Duck will win the award for the first time in franchise history.

With Zellweger's second victory in as many years, Anaheim prospects have now won the WHL Defenseman of the Year Award three times in the last nine seasons (Zellweger and Shea Theodore 2014-15). Mintyukov and Luneau are the first Ducks prospects to be named the Defenseman of the Year in the OHL and QMJHL.

Only two NHL clubs have had two prospects named Defenseman of the Year in the same season, including Nashville in 2008-09 (Jonathan Blue, WHL; Ryan Ellis, OHL) and Edmonton in 2000-01 (Christian Chartier, WHL; Alexei Semyonov, OHL).

Ducks prospect Tyson Hinds also took home some season-long hardware, earning the QMJHL's Best Defensive Defenseman award. Hinds is the second Ducks prospect to win the award, joining Nathan Saunders (won in 2004-05 after being selected in the third round of the 2003 NHL Draft).