Collin MacKenzie riding high into his 100th game

In his overage season, Ottawa 67’s netminder Collin MacKenzie is reaching a big-time milestone: 100 games played, something that has only been achieved 12 times in franchise history.

Cedrick Andree most recently achieved the feat in 2020, and Leo Lazarev in 2017. Funnily enough, MacKenzie and Andree share plenty of similarities. They have fun-loving — some would even say goofy — personalities, and are both adored by fans. Andree even left MacKenzie a cowboy hat he wore for every walk-in during the 2019 playoff run.

In a roundabout way, despite never playing on a team together, they’re two peas in a pod.

During his time, Andree won several OHL Goaltender of the Week awards, which MacKenzie did last week. He went 2-1, with a 2.00 goals-against average, a .941 save percentage, and a shutout against the Peterborough Petes.

“It’s an honor,” the overager said. “At the end of the day, I had really good defence in front of me, guys keeping the shots to the perimeter for the most part, so I just tried to do my job, and they did their job, and it worked out really well for everyone.”

In his final season of junior hockey, MacKenzie often rode the rollercoaster in the early parts of the season. Not only was he splitting games with rookie Jaeden Nelson, but when he wasn’t starting, he was sitting in the stands, watching from a distance to open up room for another overager to dress.

Since the deadline, of course, that has changed, and though MacKenzie – like every goalie at any level – wants the net as often as possible, he’s thrilled to be back on the bench when he isn’t called upon.

“It makes it a lot easier to stay in a rhythm,” he admitted. “You’re with the team always, you’re doing the warm-ups, you’re doing everything pre-game, and you’re right there in the action. It makes everything a lot easier.”

His relationship with Nelson was natural, with the pair forging a friendship immediately last season. They’re both lucky, in that sense, because their competition is always friendly.

More than that, however, they’re one another’s biggest support mechanism during a game, and both take that responsibility seriously.

“This is the first time I’ve been the older goalie,” MacKenzie said. “It’s a little cliché, but it’s like I’m watching him grow up. I remember when I was his age and what it’s like, and I’m seeing the struggles he goes through and his ups and downs. He has so much talent. He’s gonna be such a good goalie. And on top of that, he’s just a really good person to be around.”

In the past, he’s had an older partner to lean on, whether it was Will Cranley in his rookie season, or Max Donoso in each of the last two – whom he won the Dave Pinkney Trophy alongside. With Donoso in particular, MacKenzie became close friends and now tries to embody the leadership his former partner showed toward him.

One of the biggest lessons he learned came last season, when he watched Donoso battle during his overage year. Eventually, he was claimed on waivers by the Windsor Spitfires at the trade deadline, where he ended his OHL career.

“I just try to have fun with it, at the end of the day, it’s a game,” MacKenzie said, reflecting Donoso’s mindset from last season. “You gotta enjoy it. If you’re not enjoying it, then why are you playing? You only get this chance once in your life, so you just have to take the opportunity and make the most of it.”

Through 99 games, the Elora, Ontario native has a save percentage a tick below .900, a goals-against average a tad below three and 47 wins. However, the most identifiable aspect of his game is the large smile that highlights his face underneath his mask.

It has been four years of lighthearted jokes, big saves and encouraging his teammates, and even for MacKenzie, it’s hard to understand that when the 67’s season does eventually end, so too will his junior career.

“I was thinking about this the other day, and it feels like yesterday that I always just walked in for the first time, coming into my first training camp,” he said. “Now it’s almost over, just like that, you know? I’m just trying to take it day by day, enjoy as much as I can, and at the end of the day, just reflect on all the good times I had here and appreciate all the people I’ve met along the way.”

Playing both to extend his junior career and earn a place to play next season, MacKenzie is driven to play professional hockey, whether that’s next season or down the line.

“My whole goal is to end up in pro hockey by the end of my career, wherever it is,” he said. “I don’t think that’s ever going to change. I just naturally have that drive in me, and I love the sport so much.”