NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
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The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022.
Colts' Mack Guzda Named OHL Goaltender of the Week
Mack Guzda of the Barrie Colts is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, going 2-0-0-0 with a 1.49 goals-against average and .956 save percentage.
Guzda stopped 65 of the 68 shots he faced last week, helping the Colts score home wins over divisional opponents Sudbury and North Bay. He turned aside 31 shots in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Wolves, registering over 57 minutes of shutout hockey after Sudbury scored an early goal. Guzda returned to the crease on Saturday against North Bay, backstopping the Colts to a 3-2 overtime win despite being outshot, making 34 saves to earn second star honours in the process.
This marks the second time this season Guzda has earned OHL Goaltender of the Week recognition.
A 21-year-old native of Knoxville, Tenn., Guzda is currently tied for the league lead in save percentage at .922, going 14-6-0-1 with a 2.62 goals-against average in 21 games between Barrie and Owen Sound.
Now 9-2-0-0 since joining the Colts in mid-November, Guzda was originally Owen Sound’s second round (31st overall) pick in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection, and has played to career mark of 72-51-10-7.
Also considered for the award this week, Ottawa Senators prospect Leevi Merilainen of the Kingston Frontenacs went 2-1-0-0 with a 1.68 goals-against average, .944 save percentage and his first shutout of the season. Oshawa Generals netminder Patrick Leaver played to a 2-1-0-0 mark, making 120 saves over three games to post a 1.95 goals-against average and .952 save percentage.
2021-22 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Jan. 17 – Jan. 23: Mack Guzda (Barrie Colts)
Jan. 10 – Jan. 16: Mitchell Weeks (Sudbury Wolves)
Jan. 3 – Jan. 9: Nolan Lalonde (Erie Otters)
Dec. 27 – Jan. 2: Joe Ranger (Mississauga Steelheads)
Dec. 13 – Dec. 19: Owen Bennett (Guelph Storm)
Dec. 6 – Dec. 12: Mack Guzda (Barrie Colts)
Nov. 29 – Dec. 5: Leevi Merilainen (Kingston Frontenacs)
Nov. 22 – Nov. 28: Tye Austin (Peterborough Petes)
Nov. 15 – Nov. 21: Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting)
Nov. 8 – Nov. 14: Joe Vrbetic (North Bay Battalion
Nov. 1 – Nov. 7: Roman Basran (Mississauga Steelheads)
Oct. 25 – Oct. 31: Patrick Leaver (Oshawa Generals)
Oct. 18 – Oct. 24: Jacob Oster (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 11 – Oct. 17: Brett Brochu (London Knights)
Oct. 4 – Oct. 10: Tucker Tynan (Niagara IceDogs)
Firebirds' Riley Piercey Named OHL Player of the Week
Flint Firebirds forward Riley Piercey is the OHL Player of the Week, scoring four goals while adding three assists for seven points in three victories to go with a plus/minus rating of plus-3.
Piercey scored in all three of his outings, helping the Firebirds climb to within three points of first place in the West Division with wins over Guelph, Saginaw and Kitchener. He scored the overtime winner in Guelph on Tuesday, finding the back of the net with 26 seconds remaining in the extra frame as the 'Birds defeated the Storm 5-4. Piercey put together a season-high four point effort on Friday at home to Saginaw, scoring twice while adding two assists as the Firebirds secured the I-75 Divide Cup, taking a 6-3 decision to win their season series against the rival Spirit. He finished the week with a goal in Saturday's commanding 7-1 win over the visiting Kitchener Rangers, extending his current point streak to four games.
A 19-year-old native of Mississauga, Ont., Piercey sits second in Flint scoring with 37 points (15-22--37) over 30 games this season. The 6-foot-3, 212Ib. centreman is in his third OHL season, recording 85 points (35-50--85) over 152 career regular season games between Flint and Barrie. Piercey was originally Barrie's first round (16th overall) pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection.
Piercey joins Brennan Othmann as the second Firebirds player to earn OHL Player of the Week honours this season. Othmann was also considered for the award this week, registering eight points (2-6--8) over three games. Kingston Frontenacs forward Jordan Frasca posted seven points (2-5--7) and a plus-6 rating across four games as the Fronts closed out the weekend on a three-game winning streak.
2021-22 OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Jan. 17 – Jan. 23: Riley Piercey (Flint Firebirds)
Jan. 10 – Jan. 16: David Goyette (Sudbury Wolves)
Jan. 3 – Jan 9: Wyatt Johnston (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 27 – Jan. 2: James Hardie (Mississauga Steelheads)
Dec. 13 – Dec. 19: Ty Tullio (Oshawa Generals)
Dec. 6 – Dec. 12: Lucas Edmonds (Kingston Frontenacs)
Nov. 29 – Dec. 5: Wyatt Johnston (Windsor Spitfires)
Nov. 22 – Nov. 28: Brennan Othmann (Flint Firebirds)
Nov. 15 – Nov. 21: Brandon Coe (North Bay Battalion)
Nov. 8 – Nov. 14: Antonio Stranges (London Knights)
Nov. 1 – Nov. 7: Shane Wright (Kingston Frontenacs)
Oct. 25 – Oct. 31: Tucker Robertson (Peterborough Petes)
Oct. 18 – Oct. 24: Rory Kerins (Soo Greyhounds)
Oct. 11 – Oct. 17: Calum Ritchie (Oshawa Generals)
Oct. 4 – Oct. 10: Jack Thompson (Sudbury Wolves)
About the Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.
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