Gaucher, Zellweger to Compete in 2023 Memorial Cup

Two Ducks prospects, Quebec Remparts center Nathan Gaucher (first round, 22nd overall in 2022) and Kamloops Blazers defenseman Olen Zellweger (second round, 34th overall in 2021), will compete in the 2023 Memorial Cup beginning later this week. The tournament is set for May 26 through June 4 at Sandman Centre in Kamloops, B.C. All tournament games will be broadcast live on NHL Network in the United States.

Gaucher and Zellweger's participation marks the sixth straight season in which a Ducks prospect has contended for Canada's top junior hockey crown. A Ducks prospect has also advanced to the tournament final in each of the past five competitions, with Max Jones (London, 2016) and Julius Nattinen (Windsor, 2017) eventually raising the prestigious trophy.

Anaheim's Cam Fowler (2010) and Adam Henrique (2009, 2010) also captured the Memorial Cup with the Windsor Spitfires prior to their NHL career.

Zellweger will try to help Kamloops become the second straight host to win the tournament on home ice. Recently named the sixth WHL player to repeat as the league's Defenseman of the Year, Zellweger has recorded 29 points and a +18 rating in 14 playoff games. He's found the scoresheet in 12 of those 14 contests, finishing second among all WHL skaters in postseason scoring and plus/minus, third in assists and tied for third in goals.

He now ranks third all-time among WHL defenseman in playoff points per game (2.07, min. 10 games), fourth in goals and sixth in total points (29). Since 1999, only Zellweger and former first-round pick Derrick Pouliot have scored 29-or-more points in a single postseason as a WHL blueliner.

Zellweger and the Blazers will meet the defenseman's future teammate in the first game of the tournament when Kamloops faces off with Gaucher and Quebec. The Remparts captured the club's sixth Gilles-Courteau Trophy as QMJHL champs, sweeping the first two playoff rounds and finishing with a 12-2 postseason record.

Gaucher serves a critical role for Quebec as a matchup center who excels in the faceoff circle, defends well beyond his years and is capable of chipping in offensively. Despite battling through injuries this season, Gaucher became the first player in QMJHL history to win both the Guy Carbonneau (Best Defensive Forward, 2023) and Mike Bossy (Best Professional Prospect, 2022) awards. The 6-foot-3 pivotman has 20 points in 18 playoff games, including three power-play goals.

Memorial Cup Schedule:

Friday, May 26
Kamloops (Zellweger) vs. Quebec (Gaucher), 6 p.m.

Sunday, May 28
Kamloops (Zellweger) vs. Peterborough, 3 p.m.

Monday, May 29
Quebec (Gaucher) vs. Seattle, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, May 30
Quebec (Gaucher) vs. Peterborough, 3 p.m.

Wednesday, May 31
Kamloops (Zellweger) vs. Seattle, 6 p.m.

Thursday, June 1
Memorial Cup Tiebreaker, 6 p.m. (if necessary)

Friday, June 2
Memorial Cup Semifinal, 4 p.m.

Sunday, June 4
Memorial Cup Final, 4 p.m.