NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
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TORONTO — The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021.
Colts' Mack Guzda Named OHL Goaltender of the Week
Barrie Colts netminder Mack Guzda has been named the OHL Goaltender of the Week after playing to a 2-0 record with a 0.96 goals-against average, .967 save percentage and one shutout.
Guzda helped the Colts defeat the Central Division-leading North Bay Battalion on consecutive nights, first making 32 saves at home on Saturday before turning away all four Battalion shootout attempts in a 3-2 victory.
Guzda followed up with his sixth career OHL shutout on Sunday in North Bay, making 26 saves as the Colts skated to a 1-0 triumph on Evan Vierling's third-period game winner. Guzda earned first-star honours in both outings, helping the Colts climb back into the Central Division conversation with their fourth and fifth straight wins.
A 20-year-old native of Knoxville, Tenn., Guzda owns the league's second-highest save percentage of .917 through 16 games this season, playing to an overall record of 10-5-0-1 with a 2.82 goals-against average and one shutout between Barrie and Owen Sound.
The overage talent has been steady, going 5-1-0-0 with a 2.25 goals-against average and .920 save percentage since joining the Colts on Nov. 19. Originally Owen Sound's second-round (31st overall) pick in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection, Guzda has played to a career mark of 68-50-10-7 with a 3.29 goals-against average and .892 save percentage with six shutouts in 146 regular-season games. He attended rookie camp with the Buffalo Sabres this past September.
Also considered for the award this week, Windsor Spitfires netminder Xavier Medina returned from injury to go 3-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .967 save percentage last week. Owen Bennett of the Guelph Storm played to a 2-0 mark with a 0.55 goals-against average and .977 save percentage, posting a 27-save shutout in London on Saturday.
2021-22 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
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)
Frontenacs' Lucas Edmonds Named OHL Player of the Week
Kingston Frontenacs forward Lucas Edmonds is the OHL Player of the Week, scoring four goals while adding eight assists for 12 points over three games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-6.
Edmonds recorded at least three points in three straight wins, climbing into the OHL scoring lead as the Frontenacs ascended to the top of the OHL standings. He scored twice and added two assists, setting up Francesco Arcuri's game winner in Friday's 6-5 victory over the visiting Hamilton Bulldogs.
Edmonds was back at it a night later in Niagara, scoring while adding two assists with 11 shots on goal as the Frontenacs defeated the IceDogs 5-2. He wrapped up the weekend with a season-high five points, scoring while racking up four helpers as the Fronts won their eighth consecutive contest, topping the Mississauga Steelheads 5-3.
A 20-year-old native of North Bay, Edmonds leads the OHL with 35 assists and 52 points (17-35--52) in 25 games. His 121 shots on goal are a league-high, as are his 19 points on the power play. The first-year winger was originally Kingston's seventh-round (131st overall) pick in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection before spending the past four seasons playing between the junior and professional ranks in Sweden.
Edmonds was assigned a 'C' rating on NHL Central Scouting's November Players to Watch List for the 2022 NHL Draft. He joins Shane Wright as the second Frontenacs player to receive Player of the Week honours this season.
Also considered for the award this week, Frontenacs teammate Jordan Frasca recorded consecutive hat tricks, finishing with nine points including seven goals and two assists over three wins. Hamilton Bulldogs forward Logan Morrison scored three goals, added four assists and finished with seven points along with a plus-7 rating in three outings.
2021-22 OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
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)
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