OHL Player of the Week - Mackenzie Blackwood

Toronto, ON - The Ontario Hockey League today announced that 2015 NHL Draft prospect Mackenzie Blackwood is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the eight-day period of December 28 through January 4 after posting a 5-0-0-0 record with a shutout victory along with a goals-against-average of 1.60 and save percentage of .946.

Blackwood made 141 saves for the Colts in five victories following the holiday break helping his club extend their lead in the OHL's Central Division. The second goaltender to earn the award this season, Blackwood picked up his first shutout of the 2014-15 campaign on Sunday December 28 with a 26-save performance as second star of a 3-0 victory over the Guelph Storm. He earned first star honours last Monday making 29 saves in a 2-1 win over the Owen Sound Attack, then finished off the 2014 calendar year with 24 saves as part of a 6-1 triumph against the Belleville Bulls on New Year's Eve. Blackwood continued his rock solid play to start 2015 making 36 saves in a 4-3 victory over the Kingston Frontenacs on Friday, then made 26 saves on Saturday in a 10-3 win over the London Knights.

Blackwood, an 18-year-old from Thunder Bay, ON, is playing in his second OHL season with the Colts. Eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft, Blackwood was given an 'A' rating by NHL Central Scouting in their November Players to Watch list and will compete for Team Orr in the 2015 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on January 22 in St. Catharines. Blackwood was named the Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month for December and carries an 18-6-1-0 record including seven-straight victories along with a goals-against-average of 2.83 and save percentage of .914 this season.

Also considered for the award this week was Arizona Coyotes prospect Christian Dvorak of the London Knights with 12 points in four games including four goals and eight assists, and San Jose Sharks prospect Kevin Labanc of the Colts who recorded 13 points in five games scoring twice with 11 assists.