Mac Hollowell Bio
Mac Hollowell (born September 26, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for HC Lada Togliatti of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). After being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2018, he played with their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, and later with the Newfoundland Growlers. Hollowell has also had stints with the Hartford Wolf Pack and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before continuing his career in the KHL.
Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 170 pounds, Hollowell is an undersized rearguard known for his offensive instincts and skating ability. He has built a career in professional hockey through steady development in junior and minor-league systems before transitioning to professional rosters in North America and, eventually, Russia.
Early Life and Background
Mac Hollowell was born on September 26, 1998, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in a supportive household with his mother, Jenn Sheldon, and his father, Lenn Hollowell. The Niagara Falls region has a long tradition of producing competitive hockey players, and Hollowell developed his early skills within that local minor hockey environment.
As a young player, Hollowell suited up for 38 games with the Niagara Rivermen Minor Midget hockey club, where he tallied 8 goals and 19 assists for 27 points. He then played one season of junior B hockey with the Niagara Falls Canucks under the leadership of Frank Pietrangelo, an experience that helped him adjust to the higher pace and physicality of older competition. These early seasons laid the foundation for his progression to major junior hockey.
Path to Hockey
Hollowell’s path to higher-level hockey accelerated when he was drafted by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the 12th round of the 2014 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection Draft. He recorded his first career OHL goal on December 28, 2014, against the Saginaw Spirit, and finished his rookie season with two goals and four assists in 11 games. Those early contributions showed the offensive potential that would become a hallmark of his game.
Although eligible for the 2017 NHL entry draft, Hollowell went undrafted that year. He continued to develop with the Greyhounds and drew interest from the Toronto Maple Leafs, who invited him to their prospect camp during the summer. Returning to the Greyhounds for the 2017–18 season, he finished fifth among OHL defencemen in scoring with 12 goals and 44 assists in 63 games. That production convinced the Maple Leafs to select him in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL entry draft.
Mac Hollowell Career
Early Career (2014–2019)
Following his draft selection, Hollowell returned to the Greyhounds for his overage season in 2018–19 and was named an alternate captain alongside Jordan Sambrook and Morgan Frost. He finished that final OHL campaign with 24 goals, 53 assists, and 77 points in 64 games, a performance that earned him selection to the OHL First All-Star Team. His leadership and offensive output marked him as one of the top defencemen in the league that season.
On March 7, 2019, the Maple Leafs signed Hollowell to an entry-level contract. At the conclusion of his OHL career, he joined the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL) during their Calder Cup playoff run. Reflecting on the move, Hollowell noted that the professional game featured bigger, older, and positionally smarter opponents, requiring him to adapt quickly. He attended the Maple Leafs training camp the following fall before being reassigned to the Marlies for the 2019–20 season.
ECHL and AHL Debut (2019–2021)
Hollowell began the 2019–20 season with the Maple Leafs ECHL affiliate, the Newfoundland Growlers, where he recorded his first career ECHL goal in an overtime win against the Reading Royals on October 6, 2019. He later made his AHL regular season debut in an 8–5 win over the Texas Stars on November 16, 2019, before being reassigned back to the ECHL a week later. That season gave Hollowell his first sustained taste of professional hockey in North America.
With the 2020–21 AHL season delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maple Leafs organization loaned Hollowell to Finnish second-division club TUTO Hockey of the Mestis on October 28, 2020. He registered 6 points through 6 games in Finland before returning to North America for the Maple Leafs training camp. The international experience added a new dimension to his professional resume.
NHL Debut and Maple Leafs Organization (2021–2023)
After several seasons of development in the minor leagues, Hollowell made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 23, 2022, against the New Jersey Devils. Reaching the NHL marked a significant milestone in a journey that had begun with a 12th-round OHL pick several years earlier. He spent four seasons within the Maple Leafs organization, contributing at both the AHL and NHL levels.
Hartford Wolf Pack Era (2023–2024)
After four seasons within the Maple Leafs organization, Hollowell left as an unrestricted free agent and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the New York Rangers for the 2023–24 season on July 2, 2023. He was placed on waivers by the Rangers on October 1, 2023, and after going unclaimed, was assigned to the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, to begin the season.
Hollowell spent the full 2023–24 campaign in the AHL, playing 64 games and registering 3 goals and 44 points. He represented the Wolf Pack at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic and also made ten playoff appearances, registering three points. His offensive production from the blue line helped anchor Hartford’s backend during a competitive season.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Era (2024–2025)
On July 1, 2024, Hollowell signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. After going unclaimed on waivers, he was assigned to Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, to begin the 2024–25 season. Through the campaign, Hollowell led the Penguins’ blueline in scoring, posting 1 goal and 30 assists for 31 points in 56 regular season games.
HC Lada Togliatti Era (2025–Present)
As a pending free agent, Hollowell left the Penguins and opted to continue his career abroad by agreeing to a one-year contract with the KHL team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl on June 11, 2025. In August 2025, Hollowell was traded from Lokomotiv Yaroslavl to Lada Togliatti in exchange for monetary compensation and signed a contract through the end of the 2025–26 season. The move placed him on a KHL roster for the first time in his career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hollowell is recognized for his skating, puck-moving ability, and offensive instincts from the back end. Despite his smaller frame, he compensates with quick decision-making, mobility, and the vision needed to quarterback a power play. His ability to produce points consistently in the AHL has been the defining feature of his professional career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hollowell’s NHL debut on November 23, 2022, against the New Jersey Devils stands as the headline milestone of his career, validating years of steady work through the OHL and AHL. He was also named to the OHL First All-Star Team in 2018–19 and represented the Hartford Wolf Pack at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic, underscoring his reputation as a productive offensive defenceman.
Mac Hollowell Career Wins
Mac Hollowell’s professional résumé is built on consistent offensive contributions from the blue line rather than major individual trophies. His most notable statistical achievements include leading the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins blueline in scoring during the 2024–25 season and pacing Hartford Wolf Pack defencemen in points during 2023–24. These performances have been the foundation of his ongoing professional career.
OHL and Junior Highlights
During his time with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Hollowell earned recognition as one of the OHL’s top offensive defencemen. He was selected to the OHL First All-Star Team in 2018–19 after posting 24 goals, 53 assists, and 77 points in 64 games in his final junior season. Earlier in his development, he finished fifth among OHL defencemen in scoring in 2017–18, the campaign that convinced Toronto to draft him.
Other Wins and Performances
In the ECHL, Hollowell’s first professional goal was an overtime winner against the Reading Royals on October 6, 2019, a memorable way to open his scoring account. He also represented Hartford at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic, an individual honour that reflected his strong 2023–24 production.
Mac Hollowell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Mac Hollowell was raised by his mother, Jenn Sheldon, and his father, Lenn Hollowell, in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The family supported his hockey development from minor hockey through the OHL and into the professional ranks.
Personal Life
Hollowell is a Canadian national who has lived in several cities during his hockey career, including St. Catharines-area communities, Sault Ste. Marie, Toronto, Hartford, Wilkes-Barre, and Yaroslavl. Public information about his marital status and children is not available.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year marked a major transition for Mac Hollowell, beginning with his tenure at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL. He led the Penguins’ defencemen in scoring with 31 points in 56 regular-season games, providing steady playmaking from the back end. That production kept him in demand as a free agent at season’s end.
In June 2025, Hollowell committed to continuing his career abroad, signing a one-year contract with KHL club Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. A month later, in August 2025, he was traded to Lada Togliatti in exchange for monetary compensation and signed a contract through the end of the 2025–26 season. The mid-summer move gave him a fresh start on a new KHL roster heading into the 2025–26 campaign.
Hollowell’s outlook for the remainder of 2025 centers on establishing himself as a reliable contributor for Lada Togliatti in the KHL. His track record of offensive production at the AHL level suggests he can play a top-four role and contribute on the power play. If he adapts quickly to the larger KHL ice surface and increased travel demands, he is well positioned to extend his career abroad beyond the current contract.