Mason McTavish

Early Life and Amateur Career

Mason McTavish was born in Zurich, Switzerland, on January 30, 2003, while his father, Dale McTavish, was playing professionally for SC Rapperswil-Jona. He first began playing hockey in Zug before the family returned to Canada and settled in Carp, Ontario, when he was eight years old following his father's retirement from playing. His minor hockey was played with the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League, a team his father both coached and owned, providing a unique environment for his early development. McTavish's junior career began when he was selected fifth overall by the Peterborough Petes in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, the same major junior team his father had played for during his own career. In his rookie 2019-20 season with the Petes, he finished second among all under-17 players in goals before the season was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, a performance that earned him a spot on the OHL All-Rookie Team. When the 2020-21 OHL season was suspended due to the pandemic, McTavish sought playing time in Europe, securing a work visa upon turning 18 and joining EHC Olten of the Swiss League on January 29, 2021. He played 13 games for Olten, gaining valuable professional experience, before returning to Canada to captain the national under-18 team at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships.

Professional Career with the Anaheim Ducks

Selected third overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Mason McTavish signed a standard three-year, entry-level contract with the club on August 13, 2021. He made a memorable and unexpected NHL debut on October 13, 2021, against the Winnipeg Jets, as he was added to the lineup just hours before the game. In that debut, he scored his first career goal and added an assist in a 4-1 victory, and at 18 years and 256 days old, he surpassed Oleg Tverdovsky to become the youngest player in Ducks franchise history to score a goal. After appearing in nine games total and recording two goals and one assist, he suffered a lower-body injury and was subsequently assigned to the Ducks' AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, on a conditioning loan where he recorded two points in three games. The Ducks then reassigned him to the OHL's Peterborough Petes on November 20, 2021, a strategic move that preserved a year on his entry-level contract as he had not exceeded the nine-game threshold. McTavish was then traded from the Peterborough Petes to the contending Hamilton Bulldogs on January 9, 2022, in a major deal involving two prospects and six draft selections, appearing in five games for the Petes and scoring six goals before the trade. On September 27, 2025, as a restricted free agent, McTavish committed to the Ducks long-term by signing a six-year contract worth $42 million, carrying an average annual value of $7 million. His 2025-26 season with Anaheim, played under former Blues coach Joel Quenneville, saw him record 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) in 75 regular-season games, but his role diminished in the playoffs as he was a healthy scratch during their first-round series against the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights.

Trade to the St. Louis Blues and New Chapter

On June 26, 2026, the opening night of the NHL draft, the Ducks traded McTavish to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for the 15th and 29th overall selections in that year's draft. The trade came just one year after he had signed his long-term extension with Anaheim, a move that McTavish acknowledged gave him a significant chip on his shoulder and motivation to prove himself with a new organization. Upon joining the Blues, McTavish was projected to slot in as the team's second-line centre behind Robert Thomas, adding a skilled, young centerman to a core group of players in their early-to-mid twenties. Former Ducks and new Blues teammate Cam Fowler publicly stated he believed McTavish would be motivated by the trade and highlighted his potential, versatility, and the difficulty of finding a centerman with his talent. During the 2026 offseason, McTavish focused intensely on improving areas of his game that had been critiqued, specifically his foot speed and defensive play, through dedicated power skating sessions two to three times a week. He worked extensively with his long-time skills coach, Pat Malloy of Peak Center Academy, with whom he had trained for over a decade, on refining his overall game. McTavish's stated goal was to utilize his combination of power, net-front presence, skill, and shot to boost his offensive production to a level that would significantly benefit his new team in St. Louis.

International Career

Mason McTavish's international career for Canada began at the under-17 level with Team Canada White at the 2019 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, and earlier that year he won a silver medal with Team Ontario at the 2019 Canada Winter Games. His breakout performance came as captain of the Canadian under-18 team at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he led the tournament with 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) in seven games and was voted one of Canada's top three players as the team won the gold medal. He was then named to Canada's roster for the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, scoring five points in two games before the tournament's initial cancellation in December 2021 due to the Omicron variant. In February 2022, less than two weeks after his 19th birthday, McTavish made his Olympic debut at the Beijing Winter Games, becoming the youngest member of the Canadian men's hockey team. He was placed on a line with veterans Eric Staal and Josh Ho-Sang and recorded one assist as Canada was eliminated in the quarterfinals. When the World Junior Championship was revived in August 2022, McTavish was named team captain in the absence of Kaiden Guhle. He tied a Canadian tournament record by scoring four goals in an 11-1 group stage victory over Slovakia on August 11. His most famous moment came in overtime of the gold medal game against Finland, where he used his stick to bat Topi Niemelä's potential game-winning shot out of mid-air and off the goal line, a play dubbed the "McTavish Miracle" that preserved Canada's chance to win. Canada secured the gold medal minutes later, and McTavish was named the tournament's most valuable player and one of Canada's three best players, cementing his status as a clutch performer on the international stage.

• 2019: Silver medal with Team Ontario at the Canada Winter Games.
• 2021: Gold medal and Top 3 Player on Team at the IIHF World U18 Championship.
• 2022: Olympic debut with Canada's senior men's team at Beijing, recording one assist.
• 2022: Gold medal, Tournament MVP, and Top 3 Player on Team at the IIHF World Junior Championship.

Playing Style, Attributes, and Player Profile

Mason McTavish is a left-shooting centre listed at 6 feet 1 inch and 219 pounds, possessing a powerful and sturdy build well-suited for the physical demands of the modern NHL game. His playing style is characterized by a combination of high-end skill, a heavy and accurate shot, and a pronounced willingness to play in front of the net and in high-traffic areas to create scoring chances. Scouts and analysts have consistently highlighted his advanced hockey sense, competitive drive, and natural goal-scoring instincts as the foundational strengths of his game. Areas identified for development throughout his early professional career have included his initial foot speed and defensive consistency, aspects he has addressed through dedicated offseason training with a focus on power skating. His overall player rating in the EA SPORTS NHL 27 video game was an 85, reflecting his status as a skilled top-nine forward with significant offensive upside and room to grow. McTavish's versatility allows coaches to deploy him in various situations, including on the power play where his shot and net-front presence are considered major assets, and he has shown the capability to play both centre and wing. The narrative surrounding his trade from Anaheim centred on a desire for him to unlock his full potential, which includes translating his undeniable skill and powerful style into more consistent point production at the NHL level.

Career Statistics and Performance Data

The following table outlines Mason McTavish's regular season statistics through the 2025-26 NHL season, prior to his trade to the St. Louis Blues. His career totals include time spent exclusively with the Anaheim Ducks, with his initial games for the Blues beginning in the 2026-27 campaign. The data shows his progression from a nine-game rookie stint to a full-time NHL role, culminating in a 41-point season before his departure from Anaheim. His international statistics are compiled from his appearances at the under-18, World Junior, and Olympic levels, with his most prolific tournament being the 2021 U18 Worlds where he posted 11 points in seven games.

As of the 2026-27 season, McTavish's career totals included 83 goals and 191 points according to statistical records. His single-season high in goals was 17, achieved during the 2025-26 campaign with Anaheim, while he also contributed 24 assists that year. In his debut season with the St. Louis Blues in 2026-27, early game logs showed he recorded 6 goals and 10 points in his initial games, contributing to the team's middle-six forward group as he worked to establish himself with his new club. These statistics represent the quantitative output of a player whose career trajectory has been marked by high expectations following his draft position and international success.

Personal Life and Family Background

Mason McTavish comes from a deeply entrenched hockey family that has shaped his life and career path from his birth in Switzerland to his professional career in North America. His father, Dale McTavish, is a former professional player who had a lengthy career primarily in Europe, including with SC Rapperswil-Jona in Switzerland where Mason was born, and later became a coach and owner of the Pembroke Lumber Kings junior team. He currently works as a scout for the Ottawa Senators organization. Mason has one older brother named Darian, completing the immediate family unit that lived in both Switzerland and Canada during his childhood. The family's international experience, having lived in Switzerland during Dale's playing career, provided Mason with early exposure to the sport in a European context and his first steps on the ice in Zug. The McTavish family returned to Canada and established their home in Carp, Ontario, a community west of Ottawa, where Mason completed his minor hockey development within the hockey-rich environment of Eastern Ontario. His father's ongoing involvement in the game at multiple levels, from ownership and coaching to professional scouting, has been a consistent and influential presence throughout Mason's ascent through junior, professional, and international hockey.

Honours, Awards, and Records

Throughout his hockey career, Mason McTavish has accumulated a number of individual honours, team awards, and distinctive records that highlight his achievements at various levels of competition. His accolades span from his major junior debut, through his international triumphs, to his early NHL milestones, painting a picture of a player who has excelled on significant stages. Beyond these formal recognitions, McTavish's overtime goal-line save in the 2022 World Junior gold medal game entered hockey lore as the "McTavish Miracle," a singular defensive play that secured his legacy within Canadian international hockey history. His third overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft also represents a key milestone, marking his entry into the league as one of its most highly touted prospects of that year.

• 2019-20: Named to the OHL All-Rookie Team as a member of the Peterborough Petes.
• 2021: Voted one of the Top 3 Players on Team Canada at the IIHF World U18 Championships.
• 2021: Gold medal at the IIHF World U18 Championships, serving as team captain.
• 2022: Became the youngest player in Anaheim Ducks franchise history to score a goal (18 years, 256 days).
• 2022: Gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship, serving as team captain.
• 2022: Most Valuable Player of the IIHF World Junior Championship.
• 2022: Named one of the Top 3 Players on Team Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship.
• 2022: Tied the Canadian record for most goals in a single World Junior Championship game (4 vs. Slovakia, August 11).

Questions about Mason McTavish

What is Mason McTavish's most famous international moment?

McTavish's most famous international moment occurred during the gold medal game of the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship in overtime against Finland. With the game on the line, Finnish defenceman Topi Niemelä fired a shot that was headed into the open net. McTavish, positioned in the crease, used his stick to bat the puck out of mid-air and off the goal line, preventing a certain loss. This spectacular defensive play, instantly dubbed the "McTavish Miracle," allowed Canada to survive and win the gold medal minutes later. He was named tournament MVP for his overall performance, which also included a four-goal game that tied a Canadian tournament record.

Why was Mason McTavish traded from the Ducks to the Blues?

The Anaheim Ducks traded Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues on the first night of the 2026 NHL Draft in exchange for the 15th and 29th overall selections. Reports indicated the Ducks sought a change after McTavish had a 2025-26 season where he recorded 41 points in 75 games and was later a healthy scratch during their first-round playoff series. The Blues, building around a core of young players, saw an opportunity to acquire a talented, motivated centerman on a long-term contract. McTavish himself acknowledged the trade gave him a chip on his shoulder and a fresh start, stating he was not happy with how things ended in Anaheim and was passionate about improving in St. Louis.

How did Mason McTavish perform at the 2022 Winter Olympics?

Mason McTavish made his Olympic debut for Canada at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, becoming the youngest player on the men's hockey team at 19 years old. He was placed on a line with veterans Eric Staal and Josh Ho-Sang as part of the team's first unit. However, the Canadian team struggled throughout the tournament and was eliminated in the quarterfinals. McTavish's personal stat line for the Olympics was one assist recorded over the course of the competition, as the NHL's decision not to participate meant Canada's roster was composed of other professional and international players.

Where did Mason McTavish play junior hockey?

McTavish played his major junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He was originally drafted fifth overall by the Peterborough Petes, his father's former team, and was named to the OHL All-Rookie Team for the 2019-20 season after finishing second in goals among under-17 players. When the 2020-21 OHL season was suspended, he played 13 games on loan with EHC Olten in the Swiss League. Upon returning to the OHL for the 2021-22 season, he played five games for the Petes, scoring six goals, before being traded to the Hamilton Bulldogs on January 9, 2022, in a major deal involving two prospects and six draft selections.

Which NHL team drafted Mason McTavish?

Mason McTavish was selected third overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He signed a three year entry level contract with the Ducks on August 13, 2021. McTavish made his NHL debut with Anaheim in October 2021, scoring his first career goal and recording an assist. At 18 years and 256 days old, he became the youngest Ducks player to score a goal. After five seasons with Anaheim, which included signing a six year contract extension in September 2025, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues on June 26, 2026 in exchange for two first round draft picks.

What is Mason McTavish's contract status with the St. Louis Blues?

He is in the second year of a six year, $42 million contract he originally signed with the Anaheim Ducks as a restricted free agent on September 27, 2025. This contract carries an average annual value of $7 million. The Blues acquired McTavish and this existing contract via trade on June 26, 2026. This long term deal provides St. Louis with a cost controlled top nine forward who is projected to play as their number two centre behind Robert Thomas.

Sources and further reading

• Mason McTavish (Wikipedia)
• Mason McTavish, Team Canada (olympic.ca)
• Mason McTavish Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Title (hockey-reference.com)
• McTavish traded to Blues (nhl.com)
• New Blues Forward Mason McTavish Has Ample Reason ... (thehockeynews.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-29.