McGinn signs two-year deal with Avalanche

by Chris Daponte

FERGUS

This summer has been a busy one for the McGinn brothers, whose lives are usually most hectic during the hockey season.

Three weeks after 18-year-old Brock was selected in the second round of the National Hockey League draft by the Carolina Hurricanes, older brother Jamie McGinn signed a two-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche worth a reported $3.5 million.

“I didn’t want to go anywhere else,” McGinn told the Advertiser. He added contract negotiations have been ongoing for about a month, but it was obvious, “Both sides wanted to get it done.”

The team posted news of the deal on Twitter on July 13.

“Jamie made an immediate impact from the time he joined our organization,” Avalanche general manager Greg Sherman said in a press release.

“We look forward to Jamie building upon last season’s performance and are pleased to have agreed to contract terms.”

McGinn, 23, tallied 13 points of his 37 points last season in 18 games after being traded to the Avalanche from the San Jose Sharks at the trade deadline.

He attributes that success to an increased role in Colorado, as well as playing alongside  Avalanche stars David Jones and Paul Stastny.

The trio has been talking a lot this summer, McGinn said, and is looking forward to possibly playing together again for the 2012-13 season.

“I think we could do some damage,” McGinn said. “I’m just excited to get the deal done and I’m looking forward to next year.”

He will likely head to Colorado on Sept. 1 to prepare for the season, which begins on Oct. 11. In the meantime, he will continue working out in Toronto with younger brothers Brock and Tye (the latter was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010).

“I want to start the season off on the right foot,” McGinn said, adding quality time with family and friends in and around Fergus will also be an important part of his summer.

He noted it was a great joy to watch Brock get drafted on TV with his family on June 23.

“We were very excited,” McGinn said. “It was a special moment for our family.”

July 27, 2012