Matthews feels right at home
Leafs trip to Arizona includes practising in his childhood rink
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.—First, he skated with his teammates at the rink he grew up in. Then he had his favourite Mexican restaurant cater the Maple Leafs’ post-practice meal. He signed a few autographs and posed for a few pictures. Finally, it was off to the family home, where he was waiting to see how his mother had changed his bedroom around.
Auston Matthews — the hottest scoring Leaf with six points in his last two games — was home. And the smile never left his face.
“It’s kind of funny being back here with your NHL team, practising in the rink you grew up in,” said Matthews. “I played a number of games and tournaments here. It’s special being back. Great seeing all the kids. The whole rink was jammed with people watching.”
On Saturday night, the Leafs face the Arizona Coyotes, the team that turned the young Matthews on to hockey. The Leafs practised Friday at the Coyotes Ice Den in Scottsdale, where Matthews honed his skills.
The Coyotes initially built the facility (though it has changed hands since) in 1998, after they moved from Winnipeg. And on Friday, it was brimming with hockey tournaments featuring players ages 10 to 16, from all over the United States and Canada as well as the Czech Republic, a sure sign that hockey in the desert is blooming.
A bunch of them — kids and parents — ran over to watch the Leafs skate once word spread that Matthews was here. Ava Priebe, 11, of Orange County was one. She was wearing a Frederik Andersen sweater, but Matthews has become her favourite player. Andersen was her favourite when he was a Duck, and she followed him to the Leafs — then she saw Matthews. “I just started to like him when I saw him play,” she said.
Matthews used to be one of those kids.
“I watched the Coyotes practise a few times,” said Matthews. “I watched when Wayne Gretzky was coaching back then. It was cool seeing him on the ice, and the players.”
Shane Doan andDaniel Briere were his favourite Coyotes.
“(Doan) was kind of my idol growing up when I was an extremely young kid. The way he competed and battled is something you appreciate when you watch,” said Matthews. “I love them both. Danny, I loved the way he celebrated goals. When I was a young kid skating out here, I’d always mimic his celebrations.
“But Doaner was my guy. Captain Coyotes. A fun player to watch. He’d hit guys. A fun guy to watch ... I can’t say I have a favourite, because they like to fight over it.”
The Coyotes, of course, play a huge role in developing youth hockey in Arizona, but having a player of Matthews’ stature from the area starring in the NHL has also meant a great deal.
“It’s amazing how many kids know of Auston Matthews and recognize that he came from here,” said Mike Hearn, president of the Ice Den and former assistant GM of the Jets/Coyotes. “You’ll see that at the Leaf game on Saturday, that more and more, there will be that appreciation.”
Matthews, certainly, is proud of it. He’s not the only current NHLer who played minor hockey in the Phoenix area. Jake DeBrusk of the Bruins and Brendan Lemieux of the Jets played at roughly the same time as Matthews in part because their dads, Louie DeBrusk and Claude Lemieux, were Coyotes.
“You want to see it grow more and more, and you want to see kids from warmer climates like Arizona, California, Florida, Texas, picking up hockey,” said Matthews.
“It just shows it doesn’t matter where you’re from. You put enough effort into it, you can reach your goals.”
As for going back to the family home, he figured he was in for a surprise.
“My mom keeps putting stuff in there,” said Matthews. “Every time I come home, I notice something new in there. She likes to decorate with all kinds of stuff. My dad’s office is jampacked with jerseys, gloves. You’d think I’m an only child, but I do have two sisters.”