McGurn, more comfortable, proving himself early
Sean McGurn, named an assistant captain this year, has stepped up his game and appears poised for a breakout season offensively.
(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).
Luke Evangelista knows a thing or two about breakout seasons. In 2019-2020, the now-19-year-old and current leading scorer for the London Knights really made a name for himself by tallying 61 points in 62 games before the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to the season.
That breakout year led to his being drafted in the second round (42nd overall) by the Nashville Predators. We had to ask the Knights captain: Who’s your pick for a breakout season this year?
“If I had to pick one guy, it would be Sean McGurn,” Evangelista said. “I think his point totals could take a huge jump from where they were last time he was in London.”
We told this to Sean McGurn: “Wow,” the Ottawa, Ont., native said, taken aback by the captain’s vote of confidence. “That’s really nice.”
So far, Evangelista has been right on the money. In the Knights’ first seven games, during which they’ve opened the season a perfect 7-0, McGurn has scored three times and collected nine points, tying him for second on the team with rookie Colton Smith.
“I feel pretty good. The coaches have given me a lot of opportunities. I’m just trying to do the best I can with what I’ve got,” said McGurn.
What he’s got, according to Evangelista – and the Knights’ associate general manager, Rob Simpson – is plenty of offensive talent.
“He’s been a real pleasant surprise for us,” said Simpson. “He’s that older centre we needed in order to play with Luke. He’s shown that he can play on a top line, and he can play on the penalty kill and the powerplay.”
In fact, McGurn opened the year as the centreman playing between Evangelista and overager Cody Morgan in the Knights’ starting lineup. And the 19-year-old has been a steady presence for the green and gold.
He’s also come up big in key situations. After a two-point night against the Windsor Spitfires Oct. 15, McGurn played the hero the following night, scoring the overtime winner on the road in Sarnia to extend London’s winning streak to open the year.
“(Brett) Brochu made a really nice save at one end, and then Luke made a beautiful pass to me, and I was lucky to get it through the five-hole of the Sarnia Sting goalie,” said McGurn.
The winner was the veteran’s second goal of the night – and his fifth point in two games (in a 48-hour span). He’s had points in four straight games heading into action Friday (Oct. 29), and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.
“I think I have a lot to prove, with my last season [2019-20] not playing much and not doing too well offensively,” McGurn said. “I really want to prove myself this year, and so far it’s been a lot of fun.”
It’s true, McGurn struggled to get much going offensively in 2019-20 (as many first-year Knights do). In 38 games, with limited ice time, he managed just a goal and two assists for a team that was in first place when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the season.
But the centreman has a solid resume of scoring. Prior to being selected by the Knights in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection (3rd round, 53rd overall), McGurn led his team, the Ottawa Senators U18 AAA squad, with 50 points in 40 games. In his first season within London’s organization, he tallied 38 points in 40 games with the GOJHL’s St. Thomas Stars.
Putting up numbers with the Knights seemed like only a matter of time. He didn’t get the chance to do so last year, with a lost season, but McGurn is looking to make up for lost time now.
“I have more confidence with the puck, and I just feel better about myself out there,” he said. “I’m an older guy now, and I think it’s just getting more comfortable in the league. It comes with experience.”
He also put in a lot of work during his (extended) offseason. That included many hours at Fitquest with Alex Vaduva and Chris Schwarz, strength and conditioning coach with the Ottawa Senators. And it meant on-ice skills training with Pat Malloy and work at Amped Sports Lab and Ice Complex.
(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).
“It sucked missing a season of junior hockey, but I did take advantage of the very long offseason to get better,” McGurn said.
“His play shows that he used his time wisely over the pandemic to train,” said Simpson. “He’s taken a great step forward.”
He also spent time taking introduction to business classes through Western University, along with teammates Ben Roger and Nathan Dunkley (now a Knights alum). This season, he’s enrolled in a couple of sociology courses, still learning online – this time joined by teammates Jacob Chantler and Mathias Onuska, London’s backup goaltender.
He’s enjoying the program, but his primary focus is on the ice – at least for now. Though he missed out on being drafted (a lost season in 2020-21 certainly didn’t help), McGurn wants to keep playing hockey as long as he can. And with a strong season this year, even as a 19-year-old, who knows where that might lead him. Hockey scouts will find hockey talent.
But McGurn, who was named as assistant captain for this season, along with Roger, says he’s more focused on the team’s goals. The personal side, he says, will take care of itself.
“I just want to win this year with this team. That’s my number one goal. We have a really good group of young guys, and I think we’re a really deep team. We’re fast, we play a very good 200-foot game, and we care a lot about our defensive zone,” he said. “I think we have a chance to win it this year.
“It’s a huge honour to be a leader on this team. I was really happy I got named assistant captain. We have a lot of leaders on the team, but I really want to help lead this team to a championship.”
The London Knights (1) and Saginaw Spirit (2) are the two teams still standing in the West. They’ll play for a chance to advance to the OHL Final. What should we expect? Our hockey columnist, Jake Jeffrey, breaks it down …