Team USA captain Auston Matthews gets unexpected welcome from Leafs fans upon return to Toronto

Team USA men’s hockey skipper returned to his location crystal successful the NHL – ScotiaBank Arena successful Toronto – and the Canadian faithful could’ve made it a batch worse connected him during his homecoming. 

Matthews, who helped Team USA bushed beat Canada successful the gold-medal game, knew helium would beryllium returning northbound of the borderline astatine immoderate constituent to proceed his 2025-26 NHL season. But the designation helium got was amazingly affirmative contempt him being a portion of the squad that upset Canada successful Milan. 

During a stoppage successful play against the Ottawa Senators, led by Matthews’ U.S. teammate Brady Tkachuk, the Maple Leafs gave designation to the 3 players connected their squad who represented their countries successful the Milan Cortina Games. 

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Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up earlier facing the Ottawa Senators astatine the Scotiabank Arena connected February 28, 2026 successful Toronto. (Mark Blinch/NHLI)

After introducing Swedish stars William Nylander and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the arena PA announcer introduced the Leafs’ "gold medalist" skipper successful Matthews, who received immoderate jeers initially. 

Then, the full arena roseate to springiness Matthews a lasting ovation arsenic helium was called retired by the announcer. So, alternatively of ripping into Matthews for what happened overseas, the fans gave their seasoned skipper a circular of applause earlier play resumed. 

The TSN broadcast besides showed Tkachuk connected his Senators bench, looking up astatine the video committee and smiling arsenic Matthews was called. 

United States' Auston Matthews, right, celebrates aft scoring his side's 5th extremity during a preliminary circular crippled of men's crystal hockey betwixt the United States and Germany astatine the 2026 Winter Olympics, successful Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Mathews was among the Team USA stars to sojourn President Donald Trump and the White House up of his State of the Union address, which triggered important backlash and criticism. 

Players stood their ground, pointing to their American pridefulness arsenic to wherefore they decided to instrumentality the Air Force pitchy to the White House pursuing their historical triumph implicit Canada. 

And earlier returning to his Canadian location ice, Matthews and the Maple Leafs were successful Tampa Bay facing the Lightning, wherever fans astatine Amalie Arena gave the visitant a large reaction. A abbreviated ovation from Lightning fans besides rained down connected the crystal for him. 

While Matthews has enjoyed winning his golden medal, it’s been a unsmooth spell for Toronto this season. They beryllium astatine the bottommost of the Atlantic Division with a 27-24-9 grounds (63 points), wherever they’ve present mislaid 3 games successful a enactment aft the 5-2 decision to the Senators. 

Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates with the puck during the archetypal play against the Ottawa Senators astatine the Scotiabank Arena connected March 1, 2026 successful Toronto. (Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)

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Matthews tallied an assistance successful the loss, portion Tkachuk did the aforesaid for his winning squad. Nylander scored 1 of the Maple Leafs’ 2 goals. 

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