Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, January 8, 2023.
Greyhounds’ Bryce McConnell-Barker Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week
New York Rangers prospect Bryce McConnell-Barker of the Soo Greyhounds is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording four goals, four assists and eight points in three games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-4.
McConnell-Barker started his week off strong on Wednesday, recording two goals including the game-winner as the Greyhounds defeated the visiting Kitchener Rangers 5-4. He found the scoresheet again on Friday in Flint, recording a goal an an assist as the Greyhounds fell short to the Firebirds 6-5 in overtime. McConnell-Barker helped the Greyhounds bounce back at home on Sunday as the forward earned first star honours, finishing with a goal and three helpers in a 6-3 victory over the London Knights to close out the weekend.
An 18-year-old native of London, Ont., McConnell-Barker leads the Greyhounds with 47 points (21-26–47) in 37 games this season. He was a third round (97th overall) pick of the New York Rangers this past summer following 23 goals, 26 assists and 49 points in 68 games as a rookie with the Greyhounds last season. The 6-foot-2, 196lb. forward was originally Sault Ste. Marie’s first round (4th overall) pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection from the London Jr. Knights U16 program.
Also given consideration for the award this week were Anaheim Ducks prospect Sasha Pastujov of the Sarnia Sting, who recorded two goals and four assists in a pair of victories. Overage forward James Hardie of the Mississauga Steelheads was also a standout, recording two goals and four helpers (2-4-6) over three games, pulling into a tie for the most goals (114) and points (207) in Mississauga Steelheads franchise history.
2022-23 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Bryce McConnell-Barker (Soo Greyhounds)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Connor Lockhart (Peterborough Petes)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Evan Vierling (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Ryan Gagnier (Oshawa Generals)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Quentin Musty (Sudbury Wolves)
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Jorian Donovan (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Matthew Poitras (Guelph Storm)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Brody Crane (London Knights)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Matvey Petrov (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Deni Goure (Owen Sound Attack)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Owen Beck (Mississauga Steelheads)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Matthew Maggio (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit)
Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Tucker Robertson (Peterborough Petes)
67’s’ Max Donoso Named OHL Goaltender of the Week
Max Donoso of the Ottawa 67’s is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, posting a 2-0 record with a 1.00 goals-against average and .951 save percentage.
Defending the crease in back-to-back victories, Donoso turned aside 26 of the 27 shots that came his way on Friday as Ottawa defeated the Niagara IceDogs 4-1. The 6-foot-1, 182lb. netminder returned to the crease on Sunday, stopping 13 of the 14 shots he faced as the 67’s closed out the weekend with a 5-1 win over the Owen Sound Attack.
A 19-year-old from Windsor, Ont., Donoso owns a 19-5-0-1 record with a 2.62 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in 27 games this year. Donoso ranks third among OHL goaltenders in goals-against average this season as the 67’s remain atop the OHL standings. The former fifth round (98th overall) pick by the 67’s in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection currently holds a 30-14-1-6 record in 54 regular season OHL appearances.
A pair of other candidates were given consideration for the award as Guelph Storm netminder Brayden Gillespie went 2-0-0-1 with a 2.65 goals-against average and .910 save percentage, helping the Storm collect five of a possible six points. Sarnia Sting goaltender Nicholas Surzycia went 2-0 on the weekend, recording a 1.50 goals-against average and .942 save percentage.
2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Max Donoso (Ottawa 67’s)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Marco Costantini (Kitchener Rangers)
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Owen Flores (Niagara IceDogs)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion)
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Brett Brochu (London Knights)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Joe Ranger (Sudbury Wolves)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Ivan Zhigalov (Kingston Frontenacs)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Alessio Beglieri (Mississauga Steelheads)
Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting)
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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