Friday January 2, 2015

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Top OHL Performers of the Month for December, 2014, including Christian Dvorak of the London Knights, defenceman Chris Bigras of the Owen Sound Attack, rookie Zachary Senyshyn of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood of the Barrie Colts.

OHL Player of the Month – Christian Dvorak (London Knights):

Christian Dvorak of the London Knights is the OHL Player of the Month for December, recording 26 points in 10 games including 10 goals, 16 assists and a plus minus rating of plus-12. Dvorak recorded points in eight of his 10 December games, all multi-point efforts. The Arizona Coyotes second round draft pick netted hat-tricks on two separate occasions and finished 2014 in fine style, leading the Knights to an 11-4 win over Sarnia with three goals and three assists for first star honours on December 31. Dvorak’s outstanding month of December included Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week and CHL Player of the Week recognition for the week ending December 14 when he recorded 12 points (6-6–12) in three games. Dvorak helped the Knights play to a 8-1-0-1 record in the month of December, receiving star of the game recognition five times, twice being named first star of the game. He is the second London Knight in as many months to be named OHL Player of the Month after teammate Mitchell Marner received the award in November.

A 6’0″, 190Ib native of Frankfort, Illinois, Dvorak is in his sophomore season with the Knights after recording 14 points (6-8–14) in 33 games last season. After appearing in the 2014 MasterCard Memorial Cup with the Knights, the former eighth round pick in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection is currently third in OHL scoring with 25 goals, 38 assists and 63 points in 34 games this season. He was Arizona’s second round, 58th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

OHL Defenceman of the Month – Chris Bigras (Owen Sound Attack):

Owen Sound Attack defenceman Chris Bigras is the OHL Defenceman of the Month for December after collecting 13 points in six games including four goals and nine assists and a plus minus rating of plus-2. After a strong start to the month where he recorded two goals and two assists in three games, Bigras attended the Canadian National Junior Team Selection Camp before returning to finish December off with two goals and five assists in three games, headlined by a five point performance against the Plymouth Whalers on December 17. Bigras scored twice and added three assists to be named first star in the 6-3 victory. The Attack recorded December victories over Kitchener twice, Plymouth and Niagara with Bigras in the lineup as the fourth year veteran continued his strong season on the blueline.

A second round draft pick by the Colorado Avalanche in 2013, Bigras currently leads all OHL defencemen in scoring with 12 goals and 27 assists for 39 points in 32 games. The Elmvale, ON, native has fueled Owen Sound’s sixth ranked powerplay with 23 (6-17–23) of his 39 points coming on the man advantage. With an additional four assists to start off the month of January in a 5-4 shootout win over Kitchener, Bigras now has points in six of his last seven games.

OHL Rookie of the Month – Zachary Senyshyn (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds):

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds forward Zachary Senyshyn is the OHL Rookie of the Month for December after posting 13 points in 10 games including six goals and seven assists with a plus minus rating of plus-8. The Nepean, ON, native helped guide the Greyhounds to a 7-2-0-1 record in December as they hold down a 15 point lead in the West Division. Senyshyn put forth a trio of multi-point efforts, including a three point performance on December 30 to close out 2014 in a 7-2 win over Saginaw. Senyshyn was the second star of the game with two goals and an assist to extend his current eight game point streak.

After spending last season with the Smiths Falls Bears Jr. A club, being named to the CCHL All-Rookie Team, Senyshyn has made a successful jump to the OHL this season as a 17 year-old. The 6’2″, 195Ib draft eligible winger has 11 goals and 11 assists in 34 games with a plus minus rating of plus-16 and is currently fourth in OHL rookie scoring. He was Sault Ste. Marie’s third round, 51st overall pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.

Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month – Mackenzie Blackwood (Barrie Colts):

After leading the Barrie Colts to a 10-1-0-0 record in the month of December to take possession of first place in the Central Division, Mackenzie Blackwood has been named the Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month. The 6’4″, 215Ib netminder, who has made 14 consecutive starts for the Colts dating back to November 24, went 10-1-0-0 with a 1.73 goals-against-average and a .944 save percentage with one shutout in December. Blackwood was a standout on several occasions, turning aside 37 shots in a 7-2 win over Peterborough on December 6 to be named third star of the game. His 33 saves in a 6-1 win over Mississauga on December 14 saw him receive second star recognition. 26 saves in a 3-0 shutout win over the Guelph Storm on December 28 and a 29 save performance in a 2-1 victory over Owen Sound on December 29 earned Blackwood first star honours in consecutive starts.

A native of Thunder Bay, ON, Blackwood is in his second OHL season after being named to the OHL’s First All-Rookie Team in 2013-14 when he appeared in 45 games, going 23-15-1-1 with a 2.98 goals-against-average and a .902 save percentage with one shutout. The 18 year-old former fifth round pick by Barrie in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection is currently 16-6-1-0 this season with a 2.82 goals-against-average and a .914 save percentage. The representative for Team OHL in the 2014 SUBWAY Super Series is eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft.

2014-15 OHL Top Performers of the Month:

Player of the Month:

December – Christian Dvorak (London Knights)

November – Mitch Marner (London Knights)

October – Connor McDavid (Erie Otters)

Defenceman of the Month:

December – Chris Bigras (Owen Sound Attack)

November – Darren Raddysh (Erie Otters)

October – Mitchell Vande Sompel (Oshawa Generals)

Rookie of the Month:

December – Zachary Senyshyn (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)

November – Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)

October – Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)

Vaughn Goaltender of the Month:

December – Mackenzie Blackwood (Barrie Colts)

November – Brandon Hope (Niagara IceDogs)

October – Ken Appleby (Oshawa Generals)