The Peterborough Examiner e-edition

After early drought, McTavish finding groove

Former Peterborough Petes forward has been centring top line for the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks

STEVE MILTON STEVE MILTON IS A HAMILTON-BASED SPORTS COLUMNIST AT THE SPECTATOR. REACH HIM VIA EMAIL: SMILTON@THESPEC.COM

Because he was such a mature onice presence — almost a man among boys — in leading the Hamilton Bulldogs to last spring’s Ontario Hockey League championship, it is jolting to realize that, until the end of this month, Mason McTavish is still a teenager.

And that he is centring the first line of a National Hockey League team.

OK, it’s a team, the Anaheim Ducks, which has struggled all season, particularly in keeping the puck out of the net, and finds itself relegated to the Connor Bedard sweepstakes.

But you can’t hang that on McTavish, who has overcome an earlyseason scoring drought to get some mentions in the NHL rookie-ofthe-year deliberations.

“I don’t really listen to any of that talk, “McTavish said. “Individual awards are nice, and I know it sounds cliché, but I just want to help us win.”

The Calder Memorial Trophy odds favour Seattle’s Matty Beniers, who heads the freshmen class with 36 points, but McTavish, taken No. 3 in the 2021 draft, one spot behind Beniers, ranked second with 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists) and topped all rookies in shots on target heading into Wednesday’s play.

This despite not scoring a goal in his first 11 games of the season, and only one in the opening 15. That was pretty frustrating for a guy who had 30 goals and 69 points in just 42 regular- and post-season games after he was dealt to Hamilton a year ago, and potted eight goals in captaining the Canadian juniors to the 2022 world championship.

“That wasn’t fun,” McTavish concedes. “I pride myself on scoring goals, it’s part of my game and, when you’re not scoring, you’re kind of second-guessing a bit. I feel like I was getting some chances to score but it wasn’t finding the back of the net like I feel I normally can.

“Once I got the first one, it was a weight off my shoulders, and ever since then it’s more regularly than the first bit of the schedule.”

Remarkably, last year McTavish played for six teams, opening with Anaheim, skating on injury assignment with the American Hockey League’s San Diego Gulls, returning to the Peterborough Petes for five games, the swap to the Dogs, playing on the Canadian Olympic team’s first line and being named the world junior MVP.

“It’s pretty early to tell but I think all that did quite a lot for me,” he said. “Just adapting to meeting new people and getting comfortable with new teammates, coaches and living situations. I think that kind of helps, especially in pro being on the road so much. Obviously playing nine games here last year helped me be more comfortable from the start.”

McTavish says he’s gradually getting the feel for the NHL, primarily “knowing how much time I have, how much I don’t have, having more poise with the puck, understanding where my angles are open to attack, or to pass it off. Decisionmaking improves with more reps.”

He’s getting those reps progressing upwards from the fourth line until he was moved to the No. 1 unit between Adam Henrique and Troy Terry, so Trevor Zegras could drop down to add second-line punch.

In McTavish and Zegras, 21, the Ducks appear set down the middle for years to come.

The two spend a lot of time together, especially on the road.

McTavish follows the Bulldogs closely, and says the trial by fire of being a main man in the world juniors and in Hamilton’s run to the Memorial Cup final were essential to his development.

“Game 7 in the OHL final was one of the most fun games I’ve ever been in, and also the most nervous I’ve ever been,” he says.

“Those high-pressure moments definitely translate going forward; it helps your confidence just knowing what you’re capable of doing,” he added.

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2023-01-26T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-26T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://thepeterboroughexaminer.pressreader.com/article/281741273551811

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