Blazers sign 2022 draft pick, Olen Zellweger named best defenceman in the league

Less than 24 hours since being eliminated from the WHL playoffs, the Kamloops Blazers are making moves for the upcoming season.

The team announced today that they’ve signed Zach Pantelakis, a 2007-born forward, to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.

Pantelakis was drafted by the Blazers in the fifth round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.

The 5’10” athlete comes from North Vancouver and has been playing this past season in the Delta Hockey Academy 18U program.

He had six goals and 12 assists while playing in 28 games for the academy.

“We would like to welcome Zach and his family to the Kamloops Blazers organization,” said Shaun Clouston, Blazers head coach and general manager.

“We look forward to being a part of his development over the coming years.”

Pantelakis is the fifth player from the 2007-born age group to be signed by the Blazers.

He joins goaltender Logan Edmonstone and defenceman Isa Guram, along with forwards Nathan Behm and Andrew Thomson.

Earlier today, Blazers defenceman Olen Zellweger was named the recipient of the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as WHL Defenceman of the Year for 2022-23.

This is the second consecutive year Zellweger has been named the recipient of the award and it comes after he scored 32 goals and had 80 points in the regular season.

Zellweger was traded to the Blazers from the Everett Silvertips this past Janurary and has been a key player for the Blazers.

Even though the Blazers were eliminated from the WHL playoffs last night, they’ll soon be back in action at the Memorial Cup that is taking place at the end of the month.

Kamloops secured a spot by hosting the tournament and will have plenty of rest entering the competition.