Mackenzie Blackwood Bio
Mackenzie Blackwood is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on December 9, 1996, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, he was selected 42nd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and catching with his left hand, Blackwood has built a reputation as a composed, technically sound netminder capable of stealing games for his team. After stops in New Jersey and San Jose, he has emerged as a stabilizing force for the Avalanche.
Blackwood played junior hockey with the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League before turning professional in 2016. He made his NHL debut with the Devils during the 2018-19 season and went on to earn recognition as a reliable starting goaltender. In 2024, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche, where he signed a long-term contract extension and quickly became one of the team’s most important players.
Early Life and Background
Mackenzie Blackwood was born on December 9, 1996, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in a sports-minded household. His father was involved with local ice hockey teams, while his mother, Rhonda Crocker-Ellacott, was an accomplished athlete who played basketball and track and field. She later became the President and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. His father was also a devoted fan of the Colorado Avalanche and passed that affection for the franchise on to his son, an influence that would later prove meaningful in Blackwood’s career.
Blackwood did not begin playing ice hockey until the age of nine, which is considered late by Canadian standards, and he even briefly quit the sport after his first year. At age 12, the regular goaltender on his youth team was injured, and Blackwood volunteered to fill the role. He quickly fell in love with the position and committed to it full-time, playing in house leagues with the Volunteer Pool Bearcats and the Neebing Hawks. He then joined the Thunder Bay Kings of the Thunder Bay AAA Hockey League for the 2011-12 minor hockey season, where he won 15 games and posted a 3.08 goals-against average.
Path to Hockey
After his strong play in minor hockey, Blackwood was recruited by the Elmira Sugar Kings of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League for an extra season of development. The following year, the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League selected him in the fifth round of the 2012 OHL Priority Selection. Originally slated as a backup, Blackwood quickly became the Colts’ starting goaltender during his rookie 2013-14 season and went on to lead all OHL and Canadian Hockey League rookies with a 2.98 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage, earning a spot on the OHL First All-Rookie Team in 2014.
Blackwood continued to develop with the Colts and was selected to the OHL All-Stars for the 2014 Subway Super Series. He was also invited to the 2015 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, though he was unable to participate due to illness. His consistent junior play and his status as the top-ranked North American goaltender by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau earned him a spot in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, where the New Jersey Devils selected him in the second round, 42nd overall.
Mackenzie Blackwood Career
Early Career (2016-2018)
On December 30, 2015, Mackenzie Blackwood signed a three-year entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils. He began his professional career in the American Hockey League, playing for the Devils’ AHL affiliates. In early 2018, he was briefly assigned to the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL to get additional playing time. That season of work in the minor leagues helped him refine his game and prepared him for the opportunity that would soon arrive at the NHL level.
When the Devils recalled him in December 2018, Blackwood was ready. He made his NHL debut on December 18, 2018, in a loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and picked up his first NHL victory against the Boston Bruins on December 27, 2018, stopping 40 of 42 shots. Just two days later, he recorded his first career shutout with a 2-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, and he was named a Star of the Week by the league.
New Jersey Devils Era (2018-2023)
Blackwood’s rookie stretch with the New Jersey Devils was historic. After recording back-to-back shutouts at the end of December 2018, he became the first Devils rookie goaltender to accomplish that feat and the youngest goaltender in franchise history to record multiple regular-season shutouts, surpassing Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur. Despite a lower-body injury in early January 2019, he returned quickly and continued to play a major role for the Devils down the stretch.
On December 23, 2020, the Devils re-signed Blackwood to a three-year contract, signaling their confidence in him as a future cornerstone. He continued to handle a heavy workload in goal, developing a reputation for making difficult saves look routine. As a pending restricted free agent, however, Blackwood was traded to the San Jose Sharks on June 27, 2023, in exchange for a 2023 sixth-round pick.
San Jose Sharks Era (2023-2024)
Blackwood signed a two-year deal with the San Jose Sharks on July 1, 2023, and began the 2023-24 season as the team’s starting goaltender. His Sharks debut came on October 14, 2023, in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche, where he made an outstanding 51 saves. Though the Sharks struggled as a team during his time in San Jose, Blackwood gave them competitive goaltending and was a clear bright spot in a difficult season.
Colorado Avalanche Era (2024-Present)
On December 9, 2024, the San Jose Sharks traded Mackenzie Blackwood, Givani Smith, and a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko, a 2025 conditional fifth-round pick, and a 2026 second-round pick. Less than three weeks later, on December 27, 2024, Blackwood signed a five-year, $26.25 million contract extension to remain in Colorado through 2030.
Blackwood made his Avalanche debut on December 14, 2024, registering 37 saves in a 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators. He recorded his first shutout for Colorado in a 5-0 win over the St. Louis Blues on January 31, 2025, and finished the regular season with 22 wins, a .913 save percentage, a 2.33 goals-against average, and three shutouts in 37 appearances. He joined Darcy Kuemper as the only goaltenders in franchise history to record at least 22 wins and three shutouts in their first 37 appearances with the team.
In the 2025 playoffs, Blackwood made his NHL postseason debut on April 20, 2025, earning a victory in Game 1 against the Dallas Stars. He later posted his first career playoff shutout, making 23 saves in a 4-0 Game 4 win on April 27, 2025. He finished the series with three wins and a 2.71 goals-against average before the Avalanche were eliminated.
Driving Style and Strengths
Blackwood is a large, technically sound goaltender who uses his 6-foot-4 frame to cover the net effectively. He is known for his calm demeanor, efficient movement, and ability to track the puck through traffic. His partnership with the Avalanche’s defensive structure has allowed him to play with confidence, and he has built a strong rapport with backup Scott Wedgewood, forming one of the league’s most reliable goaltending tandems.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Blackwood’s signature achievements are his back-to-back shutouts as a New Jersey Devils rookie in December 2018, which placed him in the company of Martin Brodeur in the franchise record book. His 51-save performance in his San Jose debut and his Game 4 playoff shutout against Dallas also stand out as defining moments in his career.
Mackenzie Blackwood Career Wins
Mackenzie Blackwood has compiled a steady list of victories across junior, AHL, ECHL, and NHL competition since turning professional in 2016. He has earned regular-season wins with the New Jersey Devils, the San Jose Sharks, and the Colorado Avalanche, and he has added postseason victories in the 2025 NHL playoffs. He also contributed a silver medal with Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Championship.
NHL Highlights
Blackwood’s first NHL win came on December 27, 2018, against the Boston Bruins, and his most recent breakthrough came during the 2024-25 season with the Avalanche, where he tallied 22 wins in 37 appearances. In the 2025 playoffs, he recorded three wins against the Dallas Stars, including a 4-0 shutout victory in Game 4 that marked his first career playoff shutout.
Other Wins and Performances
Earlier in his career, Blackwood was named to the OHL First All-Rookie Team in 2014 and played for the OHL All-Stars in the 2014 Subway Super Series. He also represented Canada at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and won a silver medal at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, where he appeared in a relief appearance against Denmark.
Mackenzie Blackwood Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
This section is not applicable to Mackenzie Blackwood, whose background is in professional ice hockey rather than motorsports. His family, however, has been a steady influence throughout his career.
Personal Life
Blackwood was raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario, by parents who were deeply involved in athletics and community life. His mother, Rhonda Crocker-Ellacott, played basketball and track and field and later became the President and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. His father was involved with local ice hockey teams and was a devoted fan of the Colorado Avalanche, a connection that has come full circle with Blackwood’s current role in Colorado.
2025 Season Performance
Mackenzie Blackwood’s 2024-25 season was split between the San Jose Sharks and the Colorado Avalanche after he was traded in December 2024. Following the trade, he signed a five-year, $26.25 million contract extension and immediately became Colorado’s starting goaltender. In 37 regular-season appearances with the Avalanche, he posted 22 wins, a .913 save percentage, a 2.33 goals-against average, and three shutouts, joining Darcy Kuemper in the franchise record book.
In the 2025 NHL playoffs, Blackwood made his postseason debut against the Dallas Stars, earning a Game 1 victory and a 4-0 shutout in Game 4. He finished the series with three wins and a 2.71 goals-against average before the Avalanche were eliminated. He then began the 2025-26 season recovering from off-season lower-body surgery, returning to the lineup in November 2025 and earning his first win of the season against the Vancouver Canucks on November 9, 2025.
Together with teammate Scott Wedgewood, Blackwood won the William M. Jennings Trophy after the Avalanche allowed the fewest goals in the NHL during the regular season, making him the first Avalanche goaltender to claim the award since Patrick Roy in 2001-02. He finished the season ranked eighth in goals-against average and 20th in save percentage, cementing his status as one of the league’s most consistent goaltenders heading into the next campaign.
