McTavish Guides Hamilton to Game 7 Victory, OHL Championship

When the Ducks chose Mason McTavish with the third pick in last year's NHL Draft, two of the primary traits team decision makers cited were the young center's leadership capabilities and a fierce will to win.
Those capabilities were on full display in Wednesday night's Game 7 of the Ontario Hockey League's Championship Series, in which McTavish scored twice to help guide the Hamilton Bulldogs to a 6-1 victory and a berth in next week's Memorial Cup.

"These are things you dream about,"
McTavish said postgame
. "It's really hard to put into words. We'll celebrate it and we're looking forward to going to the Memorial Cup."
The Game 7 triumph gave Hamilton its second J. Ross Robertson Cup in the league's last three seasons and capped a 16-3 postseason run that began with 12 straight wins.

McTavish, who joined the Bulldogs in a midseason trade from Peterborough, posted 29 points (16-13=29) in 19 playoff games and led the league in postseason power-play goals (seven).
"Right when I got here, I knew there was something special going on," McTavish said postgame (source linked). "The management is first class and obviously the players. Sometimes it's hard to get traded to a new group of guys but I fit right in and obviously we're OHL champions now so it's something I'll never forget."
The 19-year-old put Hamilton ahead first just two minutes into the action, taking a centering pass from linemate Patrick Thomas and whipping a quick wrist shot past Windsor netminder Mathias Onuska.

"It was pretty early and there were a lot of jitters before the game," McTavish said. "I was lucky to go I think five-hole there. I don't even know where it went."
He added with a laugh, "I was pretty passionate in my celebration there. It was nice to get an early one."
McTavish made his NHL debut this season, becoming the youngest goal scorer in Ducks history in his first NHL game, Oct. 13 at Honda Center. He appeared in nine NHL games, totaling three points (2-1=3) with a power-play goal and +3 rating.

Hamilton now advances to the Memorial Cup, set for TD Station in St. John's, New Brunswick. The four-team round-robin tournament begins on June 20.
"It's tough to put into words," McTavish said. "It's something you'll never forget and is a part of you and your game. It's unbelievable."