Max McCormick has been the captain of the Coachella Valley Firebirds since the team’s inception in 2022. He’s also arguably been the Firebirds best player during their first three years in the American Hockey League.
McCormick led the Firebirds in points (67) and was second in goals (28) in 2022-23. He then led Coachella Valley in goals (30) and was second in points (60) last season. McCormick also was the Firebirds’ all-time leading goal scorer in the playoffs with 22.
But the 32-year-old forward has not played since Jan. 11 due to an undisclosed injury. It’s unclear whether McCormick will return for the Calder Cup Playoffs of if he’s done for the season. The Firebirds have not said.
Coachella Valley has played in the Calder Cup Finals in each of the last two years under McCormick’s leadership. Whether McCormick is able to have some sort of influence this postseason could play at least a small role in determining how much success the Firebirds will have.
Fortunately, though he’s been unable to contribute on the ice during games. McCormick has had an active role on the team while he’s been sidelined. He’s gone with the team on a few of their road trips, he’s been in the locker room and, more recently, he’s been on the ice with the team during practices.
“Obviously, it’s frustrating not to be out there playing with the guys,” McCormick said. “So, I’m just trying to be around and be as helpful as I can. Sometimes that’s just pushing pucks in practice, trying to push guys in the gym and in practice.”
The Firebirds have played some of their best hockey of the season over the last three months, without McCormick. But it’s been relatively inconsistent. They won seven of eight games from Feb. 16 to March 5, only to then lose five consecutive immediately following that stretch.
Consistent play is what McCormick has brought to Coachella Valley in recent years, particularly late in the season. It’s what they’ll need in order to make a deep postseason run.
“We’ve asked him to be around a little bit more and we’ve invited him to be on the ice with our group,” Firebirds head coach Derek Laxdal said. “Just having him around the group, hanging around the guys and being a part of the team has been beneficial. He brings good energy and he’s a big part of our veteran leadership.”
McCormick is under contract for the 2025-26 season. He becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer, according to spotrac.com, which tracks pro sports contracts.
One benefit of having McCormick out of the lineup, if we’re looking at silver linings, is that younger players have been forced to step into bigger roles. Assistant captain Gustav Olofsson has also missed the last month with an injury, and the other assistant captain, John Hayden, just returned Friday from a six-week stint with the Firebirds NHL affiliate, the Seattle Kraken.
“We’re trying to keep our leadership going off the ice and (Max) had done a good job with that,” Olofsson said. “But the younger guys are stepping up, and we’ve done well with a lot of rotating lineups. The reason why it works is because of the leadership and the attitude that trickles down.”
This isn’t the first time a Firebirds’ star player has been injured entering the playoffs. Two years ago, it was forward Andrew Poturalski. The veteran forward was sidelined with a lower body injury and returned in the playoffs, where he scored a walk-off goal in overtime to eliminate the Calgary Wranglers from the postseason.
It’s unclear if McCormick will be able to similarly return in dramatic fashion. But even if he isn’t able to step onto the ice for a game this postseason, McCormick said that his aim is to lead as best he can given the circumstances.
“The goal is the same, with or without me on the ice,” McCormick said. “We want to win, and with this team and this area and these fans, there’s reason to believe that we’ll be able to do that in the playoffs.”
Andrew John covers the Firebirds for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Captain Max McCormick says Firebirds’ goal is the same, even without him on the ice
Reporting by Andrew John, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
