Ducks own the CHL's top three defensemen

The Anaheim Ducks may not have won the Connor Bedard lottery, but they have a lot to celebrate. Three of the team’s prospects won CHL defenseman of the year awards.

They are Quebecer Tristan Luneau in the QMJHL, Pavel Mintyukov in the OHL and Olen Zellweger in the WHL.

The Ducks today became the first team in NHL history to have a prospect named Defenseman of the Year in each of the three Canadian Hockey Leagues (OHL, QMJHL, WHL) in the same season! https://t.co/f1LCyn5WNw

– Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) May 9, 2023

And that’s not all. Another Ducks prospect, Tyson Hinds, was named QMJHL defensive defenseman of the year. The future is bright on the Anaheim Ducks blue line.

Tristan Luneau completed the season with 20 goals and 63 assists for 83 points. This is the most points for a defenseman in a single season in the history of the Gatineau Olympiques.

Olen Zellweger scored 32 goals and 48 assists for 80 points with the Everett Silvertips and Kamloops Blazers in the WHL. Pavel Mintyukov was the most prolific of the three, amassing 88 points, including 24 goals over the course of the season.

When it comes to defensemen, we want defense. Tyson Hinds richly deserved his title of QMJHL defensive defenseman of the year. He completed the regular season with a monstrous +61 differential. Proof of his commitment to defense.

The Ducks selected Pavel Mintyukov 10th overall in the 2022 draft. The following round, they acquired Tristan Luneau. Olen Zellweger was drafted in the second round in 2021. Tyson Hinds heard his name called one round later in 2021.

Cam Fowler will have a lot of veteran work to do when all these youngsters make the jump to the NHL.

In gusts

– This is awful.

🚨A fight broke out between some Montreal CF and Toronto FC fans tonight at BMO Field 😯😕.

It was #TFCLive fans who attacked #CFMTL fans, according to some fans of the Montreal club in attendance.(@Ethan960)

pic.twitter.com/RTIC3hLe5S

– KAN FC ⚽ (@kanfootballclub) May 9, 2023

– Good performance from Canada before the start of the World Championship.

Cody Glass scored a hat trick and Canada won its Worlds prep gamehttps://t.co/K0Ej1FX5Du

– RDS (@RDSca) May 10, 2023

– Jack Hughes has a special fan who came to see him play.

Well, well, well… would you look who it is. 👀 #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/prSmqiOopJ

– NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) May 9, 2023

– Montreal CF is on fire.

5 straight wins in all competitions for @cfmontreal, who beat @TorontoFC to reach the semi-finals of the Canadian Championship.#CFMTL #TFCLive @RDSca

– Olivier Brett (@Olivier_Brett) May 10, 2023