Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that defenceman Ryan Murphy of the Kitchener Rangers is the OHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 22 after recording seven points in three games including two goals and five assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-4.

Murphy becomes just the second defenceman to claim OHL Player of the Week honours this season after recording points in all three games of an East Division road swing beginning with a single assist Friday night in a 9-1 win over the Kingston Frontenacs.  On Saturday night in Belleville he matched a season-high with four points scoring the game-winner late in the third period on the power play in addition to his three assists as second star of the 5-4 win over the Bulls.  His week wrapped up with a goal and an assist on Sunday despite a 4-3 loss to the Ottawa 67’s. 

Murphy, an 18-year-old from Aurora, ON, is playing in his third OHL season with the Rangers.  Selected in the first round, 12^th overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Murphy has 25 points in 27 games so far this season.

Also considered for the award this week were a pair of Ottawa Senators prospects Shane Prince of the Ottawa 67’s and Stefan Noesen of the Plymouth Whalers.  Both players picked up eight points last week with Prince scoring three goals and five assists in three games, while Noesen tallied two goals and six assists in four games.  In goal, Matej Machovsky of the Brampton Battalion won two games including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 0.50 and save percentage of .967.

2011-12 OHL Players of the Week:

Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: Ryan Murphy, Kitchener Rangers

Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Josh Shalla, Saginaw Spirit

Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Tyler Toffoli, Ottawa 67’s

Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Beau Schmitz, Plymouth Whalers

Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Andrew Agozzino, Niagara IceDogs

Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Philip Lane, Brampton Battalion

Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Christian Thomas, Oshawa Generals

Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Brendan Gaunce, Belleville Bulls

Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Tanner Pearson, Barrie Colts

Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Ryan Spooner, Kingston Frontenacs

Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Matt Puempel, Peterborough Petes

Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Shane Prince, Ottawa 67’s

Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Brandon Saad, Saginaw Spirit

Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Nail Yakupov, Sarnia Sting

Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Greg McKegg, Erie Otters

Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Seth Griffith, London Knights

Sept. 21 – Sept. 25: Tanner Pearson, Barrie Colts