For Fergus native Jamie McGinn, the 2013-14 National Hockey League season was a bittersweet experience.
While disappointed with his team’s first round exit from the NHL playoffs, the Colorado Avalanche left winger is encouraged by the franchise’s turnaround from a 29th place team last season to a third place finish this year.
“It was something pretty special we had in that locker room this year,” McGinn said in an interview just days after the Avalanche were ousted from the playoffs in seven games by the Minnesota Wild.
“We wanted to go on even further and it definitely stings … but we had a good year.”
McGinn, 25, attributes much of his team’s success this season to a newfound and resolute belief that it can – and should – win a lot of games.
After registering a career-high 38 points (19 goals, 19 assists) in the regular season, McGinn tallied five points (2G, 3A) in the playoffs, good enough for fourth on the team.
“I wanted to be a big part of it and be a difference maker in the playoffs,” said McGinn, who saw his average ice time climb from 15:46 in the regular season to 17:18 in the playoffs.
“It’s nice that (coach Patrick Roy) believed in me and could put me out there in key situations … I loved every second of it, that’s for sure. The playoffs are a different animal.”
Despite a disappointing loss in the closely-contested series with the Wild, McGinn said his team has a promising future.
“If they can keep this core together, we’ll be very good for a long time,” he told the Advertiser.
McGinn said he will take some time off before returning to his summer cottage on Belwood Lake. He said he will start workouts this summer with the goal of working on “the little things,” such as strength, speed and his shot.
“I want to be the best player I can be,” he said.
And to help him get there, he will again lean on brothers Tye and Brock, with whom he trains in the off season.
“We have that healthy family competition going on so we push each other,” said McGinn. “We want the best for each other.”
Tye, 23, split time this season between the Philadelphia Flyers (18 games, five points) and its AHL affiliate the Adirondack Phantoms (54 games, 35 points).
Brock, 20, a Carolina Hurricanes draft pick, registered 85 points in 58 regular season games with the OHL’s Guelph Storm, plus 10 points in 10 playoff games. The Storm are up 2-1 over the North Bay Battalion in the OHL finals, with future games set for May 7, 9, 11 and 12.
