Maple Leafs’ Matthews says it’s bittersweet to play in Utah after move from Arizona
As the Toronto Maple Leafs journeyed into the Delta Center as visitors for the first time since the Coyotes relocated to Utah, Matthews felt conflicted about experiencing NHL hockey in a new city.
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Growing up in Scottsdale, Ariz., Auston Matthews spent his fair share of time following the Coyotes franchise.
So, as the Toronto Maple Leafs journeyed into the Delta Center as visitors for the first time since the Coyotes relocated to Utah, Matthews had to feel conflicted about experiencing NHL hockey in a new city.
“It is. Not really anything you can do about it now. It is what is,” the Maple Leafs captain said to reporters, including Utah Hockey Club‘s Cole Bagley, Sunday when asked if it was bittersweet to be in Salt Lake City rather than at home.
But on the flip side, Matthews said it is “kind of exciting to be in a fresh market, fresh place and get to experience a new city.”
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Just last February, Matthews scored his 50th and 51st goal of the 2023-24 campaign in Toronto’s final visit to Tempe before the Coyotes transitioned to Utah over the summer.
The day prior, the eventual 69-goal scorer welcomed his Maple Leafs teammates to his expansive home for a day of team bonding.
“It felt good. Nice to kinda host the guys, and we got beautiful weather and all that stuff. So, we really lucked out,” said Matthews of getting to spend some time at home after the game.
Matthews is living proof of how having local professional sports can influence the development of sport in a city or region. And now that Arizona doesn’t have the Coyotes to provide that example, Team USA’s captain at the 4 Nations Face-Off wants to continue making his mark — even if it’s from afar.
“It’s been growing,” Matthews said of hockey in Arizona. “It’s unfortunate you lose a team. One of the exciting things about growing up there was going to watch those games…. We have more guys that are coming out of Arizona that are playing high-level hockey, that are playing in the NHL, it’s come a long way since my childhood there.
“I think it’s important that guys like myself, guys that are from there, continue to have an impact on the youth that wanna play hockey. Hopefully, losing the team doesn’t have too big an impact on that.”
