from Sarah McLellan of azcentral sports,
Born in northern California, Matthews moved to the Valley as an infant and took in his first Coyotes game when he was 3 years old. He started playing two years later, dressing for the Jr. Coyotes and Bobcats before graduating to the U.S. National Team Development Program in Michigan and a professional league in Switzerland.
But Matthews will forever be linked to Arizona, a connection he’s eager to emphasize.
“That’s where I grew up playing hockey my whole life,” he said. “It’s where I live. It’s my home. So you always have a sense of pride.”
He started to generate buzz when he joined USA Hockey about three years ago, eventually being tabbed as the consensus 2016 top pick. Coyotes captain Shane Doan heard the chatter and invited Matthews to skate in the summer with NHLers at the Ice Den in Scottsdale.
The two have stayed in touch, making last week’s game against the Coyotes even more special for Matthews. And Doan, who has for decades been the most prominent face of hockey in the desert, has been impressed with the newest poster boy.
“It gives us credibility throughout the country,” Doan said. “The way he has handled it has probably been the most remarkable. It’s fun to see and exciting to see what he’s going to do. He’s just getting started.”
Create an Account
In order to leave a comment, please create an account.