Because these rivers freeze over for most of the Canadian winter a very conducive environment is naturally provided supporting ice skating of all varieties; the local area has been a producer of many champion speed skaters.

In 1890, he defeated reigning World Champion Axel Paulsen of Norway in a series of races held at Minneapolis, Minnesota to become the World Professional Speed Skating Champion.

In 1892, McCormick travelled to Oslo (then Christiania), Norway to race the new Norwegian champion, Harold Hagen.

Hagen defeated McCormick and was crowned the new World Professional Speed Skating Champion.

McCormick raced Hagen a second time the following season in 1893 in a three-race meet at Minneapolis and was again unsuccessful.