Mason McTavish Bio
Mason Dale McTavish is a Swiss-born Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays centre and serves as an alternate captain for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected third overall by the Ducks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, he debuted as a teenager and quickly established himself as one of the most promising young forwards in the league. Internationally, McTavish has represented Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics and won gold at both the under-18 and World Junior levels.
Early Life and Background
Mason McTavish was born on January 30, 2003, in Zürich, Switzerland, where his father Dale McTavish was playing professional hockey for SC Rapperswil-Jona. The young McTavish first learned to skate and handle a puck in the Swiss town of Zug, growing up around rink environments and absorbing the rhythms of the game from his father and his father’s teammates. When Mason was eight years old, the family moved back to Canada following Dale’s retirement, and the McTavishs eventually settled in Carp, Ontario, a small community west of Ottawa.
Back in Canada, McTavish began his organized hockey journey with the Pembroke Lumber Kings, a junior organization where his father Dale served as both owner and head coach. That blend of family support and hands-on mentorship shaped his early development, as Mason played minor hockey under his father’s direct guidance. He has one older brother, Darian, and the McTavish family remains closely connected to the sport, with Dale now working as a scout in the Ottawa Senators organization.
Path to Hockey
McTavish’s rise through the junior ranks began in earnest when he was selected fifth overall in the 2019 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection by the Peterborough Petes, the same junior franchise his father had once suited up for. In his first OHL season of 2019-20, he finished second among all under-17 players in goals scored before the COVID-19 pandemic halted the campaign.
With the 2020-21 OHL season suspended, McTavish returned to Switzerland to continue his development. He could not secure a work visa until he turned 18, and he finally joined the Swiss League’s EHC Olten on January 29, 2021. He appeared in 13 games for Olten before heading home to represent Canada at the 2021 World U18 Championships, where he captained the squad and tallied 11 points in seven games to claim a gold medal.
Mason McTavish Career
Early Career (2021)
McTavish’s professional arrival came in 2021 when the Anaheim Ducks selected him third overall in the NHL Entry Draft, making him one of the highest-drafted Canadian forwards of his class. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Ducks on August 13, 2021, and was originally expected to watch from the press box on opening night. Instead, he was added to the lineup hours before puck drop against the Winnipeg Jets on October 13.
On debut, McTavish wasted no time, scoring his first career NHL goal and adding an assist in a 4-1 win. At 18 years and 256 days old, he surpassed Oleg Tverdovsky as the youngest player ever to score for the Ducks. A lower-body injury limited him to three early games before the Ducks sent him on a conditioning loan to their AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, where he recorded two points in three games. After nine total appearances with Anaheim, he was reassigned to the Peterborough Petes on November 20 without the club burning a year off his entry-level deal.
Peterborough Petes and Hamilton Bulldogs (2021-2022)
Back in the OHL with the Petes, McTavish posted six goals and seven points in five games, quickly reminding scouts why he had been a top-three NHL pick. On January 9, 2022, the Petes traded him to the contending Hamilton Bulldogs in exchange for two prospects and six draft picks, giving McTavish a chance to chase a championship with a Memorial Cup-caliber roster. His time in Hamilton helped him refine his two-way game and prepare for a full-time NHL role the following fall.
Anaheim Ducks Era (2021-Present)
After his late-season junior stint, McTavish returned to Anaheim and locked down a regular spot in the Ducks’ lineup, eventually being named an alternate captain as the franchise leaned on him as a foundational piece of its rebuild. On September 27, 2025, coming off his entry-level deal, McTavish signed a six-year contract with the Ducks, a significant commitment that underlined his importance to the organization’s long-term plans. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing roughly 218 pounds, he brings size, skill, and a competitive edge to the Ducks’ top-six forward group.
Driving Style and Strengths
McTavish is widely regarded as a power centre who combines a heavy shot with a willingness to engage physically along the boards and in front of the net. He has earned a reputation for clutch performances, sharp hockey sense, and an unflinching competitive temperament that shows up in high-pressure moments. Coaches and teammates have praised his ability to drive play in all three zones while also serving as a vocal leader in the locker room.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most iconic moments of McTavish’s young career came during the rescheduled 2022 World Junior Championships, when he batted a Finnish shot out of midair and onto the goal line in overtime to preserve a Canadian victory, a play dubbed the McTavish Miracle. Earlier in that same tournament, he tied a Canadian record with four goals in an 11-1 win over Slovakia and was later named tournament MVP. He was also part of Canada’s entry at the 2022 Winter Olympics, skating on the first line alongside veteran Eric Staal and Josh Ho-Sang.
Mason McTavish Career Wins
McTavish’s trophy case is anchored by international gold medals, beginning with the 2021 World U18 Championships, where he captained Canada to the title with 11 points in seven games. He followed that up with a gold medal at the 2022 World Junior Championships, where his tournament-saving defensive play and four-goal performance against Slovakia earned him MVP honours and a place on Canada’s top-three player list.
International Highlights
McTavish made his international debut with Canada at the 2021 World U18 Championships, registering five goals and six assists in seven games en route to gold. He was later invited to the 2022 World Junior team before the event was cancelled due to COVID-19, and he was selected to represent Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Although the NHL did not release its players for the Olympics, McTavish played a key role on Canada’s first line before the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Other Wins & Performances
In his brief time in the Swiss League with EHC Olten, McTavish gained valuable experience as a teenager playing against grown men, appearing in 13 games and demonstrating he could hold his own professionally. His dominant OHL stretch with both the Peterborough Petes and Hamilton Bulldogs further cemented his status as a top NHL prospect and set the stage for a full-time NHL role in Anaheim.
Mason McTavish Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the McTavish family, with father Dale McTavish having played professionally in Switzerland for SC Rapperswil-Jona before moving into coaching and team ownership. Dale owned and coached the Pembroke Lumber Kings, the minor hockey program where Mason first cut his teeth, and he previously played for the Peterborough Petes, the same OHL franchise that drafted his son. Dale is currently a scout in the Ottawa Senators organization, keeping the family tied to NHL front offices.
Personal Life
Mason McTavish is a Canadian citizen who grew up in Carp, Ontario, where his family settled after returning from Switzerland. He has one older brother, Darian, and the brothers share a close bond rooted in sport and family tradition. Off the ice, McTavish is known for keeping a relatively low public profile as he focuses on his rising hockey career with the Anaheim Ducks.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a major milestone for Mason McTavish, as he signed a six-year contract extension with the Anaheim Ducks on September 27, 2025, locking in his long-term future with the franchise. Coming off restricted free agency negotiations, the deal signalled that Anaheim views McTavish as a cornerstone of its rebuild and a player to build its contender around. The contract underscored the confidence the organization has in his continued development and leadership qualities.
On the ice, McTavish continued to anchor the Ducks’ top-six forward group, logging heavy minutes in all situations and serving as a primary offensive driver for a young Anaheim roster. His combination of size, shot volume, and two-way responsibility has made him a focal point of the team’s power play and a trusted matchup centre against opposing teams’ best lines. As the Ducks push to return to playoff contention, McTavish’s emergence as a bona fide first-line centre is central to that outlook.
Looking ahead, McTavish’s blend of international experience, including Olympic and World Junior stages, and his now-secured long-term deal position him as the face of the Ducks’ next competitive era. With multiple prime years ahead, expectations are high for him to take another leap offensively while continuing to provide the leadership that earned him the alternate captaincy. The 2025-26 campaign is widely viewed as a breakout opportunity for one of the NHL’s brightest young stars.