Mason McTavish Takes Full Advantage Of Development Time During Conditioning Loan
Nov 4, 2021By AJ Manderichio/SanDiegoGulls.com
There’s never enough ice time for Mason McTavish.
“I love going on the ice,” the rookie center said following a recent practice. “I'd like to go every day, but obviously it's nice to have a day off every once in a while. Once I'm on the ice, I always enjoy my time competing with my teammates and having fun. It's what I love to do, and that's why I keep doing it.”
The third overall selection from the 2021 NHL Draft, McTavish is with the San Diego Gulls on a Conditioning Loan. He’s working his way back from a lower-body injury he suffered during the Anaheim Ducks matchup with the Calgary Flames on October 18.
He’s made an immediate impact, collecting 1-1=2 points as San Diego split a weekend series with Tucson. McTavish became the youngest player in Gulls history to score a goal, netting one on the power-play in Saturday’s 6-4 setback to the Roadrunners.
“It's obviously a little bit different, going from the NHL to the AHL, but it's been great,” he said. “Really competitive. Been really enjoying my time down here. Coaching and players are great, so it's been fun for me.”
The script follows his early success with the Ducks.
McTavish made an unexpected NHL debut during Anaheim’s home opener on October 13 against the Winnipeg Jets. The center received an afternoon call from head coach Dallas Eakins informing him he’d step in to replace Max Jones, who missed the game with flu-like symptoms.
He made an impact right away, swiping home a rebound for his first NHL goal (and point) with 6:40 remaining in the first period. The tally was initially waved off, but video review reversed the call, confirming his shot crossed the goal line before a whistle ended play.
The center became the youngest goal scorer in Ducks history (18 years, 256 days), surpassing Oleg Tverdovsky in 1994 (18 years, 259 days).
"I couldn't have dreamed it any better, to be honest," McTavish said following the game. "With the big win and the goal, it's definitely one I'll never forget."
The foundation for his success began during Anaheim’s Rookie Camp, where he learned under the watchful eye of Gulls head coach Joel Bouchard and the Anaheim Ducks management team. His prior experience with San Diego’s bench boss made him feel more comfortable as he kicked off his stint in the AHL.
“I just like how he wants his players to compete as hard as they can,” McTavish explained. “He expects everybody to work as hard as they can. It's their job, so obviously have fun, but when it's time to work, he expects us to work, which I like.”
The experience also allows McTavish to ingrain himself with several of Anaheim’s top prospects. The center joins a team featuring Jacob Perreault, Brayden Tracey, Lukas Dostal and several other young players looking to one day make an impact with the NHL club.
“It's super cool to see all the young guys here,” McTavish said. “The older guys really help us, especially at the start just getting really comfortable. Same with the coaches and management. It's pretty cool to have that dynamic. It's pretty fun to be around and, like I said, I'm just really enjoying my time here.”
At the end of a recent practice, after most players exited the rink, McTavish remained on the ice. He challenged Perreault to a shootout, with Dostal in net to face each shooter. A fun game quickly turned competitive, with both young players extending the matchup and lobbing good-natured chirps at each other.
The 10-minute session put McTavish’s philosophy on display and gave the rookie a chance to continue to develop the skills which excite Ducks and Gulls fans alike.
“I always like to believe in myself,” McTavish said. “I'm pretty solid offensively; I have a good shot. I'm pretty offensively aware of my surroundings. Being confident, and I think the coaches and the teammates help me a lot. I just like to believe in myself and my abilities on the ice.”