Stockton Heat defenceman Connor Mackey named AHL Player of the Week

Stockton Heat defenceman @Connor Mackey has been announced the American Hockey League’s player of the week for Nov. 29 – Dec. 5, the AHL announced Monday.

Mackey, 25, led the Heat with three goals and two assists in their two-game sweep of the San Diego Gulls over the weekend. All three of his goals came in special-teams situations: Mackey scored once on the power play and two while Stockton was shorthanded.

In Stockton’s 4–1 win over San Diego on Dec. 3, Mackey became the first Heat player since @Curtis Lazar on Dec. 8, 2018 to score a shorthanded and power-play goal during the same game. The following night, Mackey recorded a Gordie Howe hat-trick with a goal, assist, and fight — all of which in the first period of Stockton’s 3–2 win over the Gulls.

Mackey currently ranks third among all Heat defencemen with nine points (three goals, six assists) in 17 games this season. His 43 shots on goal rank fifth among all AHL rearguards.

In 2020–21, his AHL rookie season, Mackey was named a Pacific Division all-star after ranking fourth on the Heat with 16 points in 27 games. He also appeared in his first six National Hockey League contests with the Calgary Flames, scoring a goal and adding two assists.

Mackey and the Heat will return to action on Dec. 7 to take on the San Jose Barracuda at 7:30 p.m. MT.