Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today that Seattle Thunderbirds defenceman Ethan Bear has been named the WHL Player of the Week for the week ending May 7, 2017.

Bear registered three points (1G-2A) in two games as the Thunderbirds split the opening two contests of the 2017 WHL Championship Series presented by Rogers in Regina.

Back in the lineup after missing time due to injury, Bear logged a goal and an assist on Friday, May 5, as the Thunderbirds claimed a 2-1 overtime win at Regina to open the 2017 WHL Championship Series. The performance was good enough for third-star honours. On Saturday, May 6, Bear tallied one assist as the Thunderbirds fell to the Regina Pats in overtime by a 4-3 margin.

Bear sits second in WHL Playoffs scoring among all WHL defencemen with 19 points (6G-13A) in 13 games. His six goals are tied for first among all WHL defencemen.

The 19-year-old product of Ochapowace, Sask., finished the WHL regular season third in scoring among defencemen, with 70 points (28G-42A) through 67 games.

A fifth-round pick (124th) of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers at the 2015 NHL Draft, the 5-foot-11, 205-pound defencemen has accumulated 192 points (66G-126A) in 264 career WHL regular season contests, all with the Thunderbirds. Additionally, Bear has notched 48 points (17G-31A) in 46 career WHL post-season outings.

He was originally a second-round pick (25th) of the Seattle Thunderbirds at the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft.

Bear and the Thunderbirds host the Regina Pats for Games 3, 4 and 5 of the 2017 WHL Championship Series presented by Rogers, with Game 3 slated for Tuesday, May 9 (7:35 p.m. PT) at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash.

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

Feb. 20 – Feb. 27: Nick Henry, Regina Pats

Feb. 28 – March 5: Tyler Wong, Lethbridge Hurricanes

March 6 – March 12: Cody Glass, Portland Winterhawks

March 13 – March 19: Brandon Hagel, Red Deer Rebels

March 20 – March 27: Sam Steel, Regina Pats

March 28 – April 2: Ethan Bear, Seattle Thunderbirds

April 3 – April 9: Giorgio Estephan, Lethbridge Hurricanes

April 10 – April 16: Reid Gardiner, Kelowna Rockets

April 17 – April 23: Reid Gardiner, Kelowna Rockets

April 24 – April 30: Adam Brooks, Regina Pats

May 1 – May 7: Ethan Bear, Seattle Thunderbirds