by Calgary, AB – The Western Hockey League announced today that Seattle Thunderbirds defenceman Ethan Bear (First Nations Cree) has been named the WHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 19, 2017.
Bear registered 10 points (4G-6A) in five games to help the Thunderbirds go 3-2-0-0 this past week.
On Monday, February 13, Bear collected a goal and two primary assists in a 6-3 loss at Kelowna and was named third star. On Tuesday, February 14, Bear notched one assist in a 4-1 win versus Red Deer and followed up on Friday, February 17, with a power-play goal in a 4-2 loss at Tri-City. Saturday, February 18, Bear exploded with a four-point performance (2G-2A) in a 5-3 win versus Portland and was named first star for his efforts. He then wrapped up his weekend with one assist on Sunday, February 19, in a 5-4 shootout win at Portland.
A 19-year-old product of Ochapowace, SK, Bear sits second among all WHL defencemen and third among all Thunderbirds with 62 points (25G-37A) in 58 games.
The 5-foot-11, 205-pound defenceman was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the fifth round (124th) of the 2015 NHL Draft. In July 2016, Bear signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Oilers.
Originally taken by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the second round (25th) of the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft, Bear has amassed 184 points (63G-121A) in 255 career WHL regular season games.
This is the second consecutive week a Thunderbird has earned WHL Player of the Week honours. Mathew Barzal was previously named WHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 12, 2017.
WHL Player of the Week
Sept. 23 – Sept. 25: Chad Butcher, Medicine Hat Tigers
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Sam Steel, Regina Pats
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Cody Glass, Portland Winterhawks
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Tyler Benson, Vancouver Giants
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Kale Clague, Brandon Wheat Kings
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Kailer Yamamoto, Spokane Chiefs
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Connor Hobbs, Regina Pats
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Adam Brooks, Regina Pats
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Alexander True, Seattle Thunderbirds
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Jayden Halbgewachs, Moose Jaw Warriors
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Sergey Zborovskiy, Regina Pats
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Calvin Thurkauf, Kelowna Rockets
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Deven Sideroff, Kamloops Blazers
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Adam Brooks, Regina Pats
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Brayden Burke, Moose Jaw Warriors
Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Tyler Wong, Lethbridge Hurricanes
Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: Tyler Soy, Victoria Royals
Jan. 23 – Jan. 29: Jake Bean, Calgary Hitmen
Jan. 30 – Feb. 5: Kole Lind, Kelowna Rockets
Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Mathew Barzal, Seattle Thunderbirds
Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Ethan Bear, Seattle Thunderbirds
