A leading offensive player of his era, McGimsie led the Manitoba and North West Hockey League with 28 goals in 8 games in 1904–05.

[3] The establishment of the Stanley Cup as Canada's national hockey championship in 1893 inspired McGimsie, who dedicated his early life to winning it.

[8] Turning his focus exclusively to hockey, McGimsie quit school and paid a $2 fee to join the Thistles' senior team for the following season.

[5] He scored ten goals in four regular season games to help the Thistles win the Manitoba and North West Hockey Association (MNWHA) championship.

Led by Tommy Phillips' five goals, Rat Portage won the first game by a 9–3 score against an Ottawa team that was missing its star, Frank McGee.

[7] The team defeated the Winnipeg Hockey Club in a single game playoff, 8–2, to win the Manitoba championship, but made no challenge for the Stanley Cup that season.

Instead, they mandated that the Montreal Wanderers, who won the Cup from Ottawa, would face the Thistles in a two-game series for the trophy midway through the 1906–07 season.

[7] McGimsie became a jeweller, an occupation that led to his moving frequently across western Canada until his daughter convinced him to settle in Calgary, Alberta.