The hosts of the upcoming Memorial Cup, the Kamloops Blazers set the stage for Sunday’s Western Junior Hockey League (WHL) playoffs by completing a trade in which they traded to the Everett Silvertips four players and a dozen draft picks.
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The third-best club in the WHL Western Conference standings has acquired defenseman Olen Zellweger and forward Ryan Hofer to improve their chances of going deep in the playoffs.
However, the price to pay was steep, as he sent rival organization Drew Englot, Kaden Hammell, Rylan Pearce and Jack Bakker, along with their first-round picks to each of the next three drafts, among others.
The 2023 second-round pick is also involved.
Zellweger is a member of the Anaheim Ducks of the National League, who has 28 points in 23 games this season.
A Washington Capitals prospect, Hofer has 23 goals and 13 assists for 36 points in as many games this season.
Kamloops is posting a 22-8-6 record. The Memorial Cup will take place from May 26 to June 4.