#NHLVideos: Auston Matthews talks Canada rivalry, and opportunity to play best-on-best

Auston Matthews talks Canada rivalry, and opportunity to play best-on-best

Uh it’s a huge honor to to be here 
representing the US. Um Olympics is the biggest stage in the world. So to 
be able to wear the USA flag uh crest um you know definitely one of the biggest 
honors that you could have in your career. Uh I mean I think the message was just kind 
of you know we fell short of our goal at the for nations last year uh in February. Um, we we 
have a big big pool of guys to obviously choose from. A lot of talent in USA hockey right 
now, which is a good problem to have. Uh, but you know, just uh, you know, just 
kind of keep it in the back of your head, use it as motivation come February. Um, like 
I said, it’s a it’s a big stage and a big honor to to be a part of that and excited 
for the opportunity to to go at it again. I mean, I think a lot of guys uh I knew 
previously, but um I just think the energy in the room was um was incredible. Uh the guys came 
together so quickly um in in such a short amount of time, obviously playing only four games, but 
um the energy in the room, just the atmosphere, uh the excitement that guys had to uh be playing 
with each other again or playing with guys that maybe you haven’t played with before. um a 
lot of us kind of battle against each other all year long. So to come together like that um 
wear the OC jersey again huge honor and um just the excitement in the room just to at the start of 
the tournament uh just love the energy all around. I think the rivalry with Canada was or 
is you know pretty pretty bitter I’d say. um obviously uh a lot of pride uh 
prideful countries uh respectively and um you know I see it firsthand 
every day playing in Toronto and so um it’s definitely uh definitely great for the 
game. Obviously they have a great team. There’s a lot of really good countries, a lot of great 
teams uh in their respective uh countries. So, uh, but I definitely think that rivalry 
between USA Canada is very special. I mean, I think it’s pretty easy to 
separate the two to be honest. And, uh, unfortunately, it’s been, uh, you know, in 
my time in the NHL, I haven’t played in any, um, you know, best on best or we haven’t had 
any Olympics, international tournaments. Um, I haven’t competed in the World Championships 
uh, since uh, my draft year. So, um I think it’s pretty easy to separate the two, but obviously, 
you know, in the next coming years, having the opportunity to to play in the Olympics, having 
the World Cup every two years, um it’s definitely exciting for me, but I think uh some people in 
Toronto still think I’m Canadian, but um yeah. Yeah. I mean, I watched uh like I’m 
sure every other kid watched. Um, I mean, it’s pretty pretty crazy to 
think that that was 15 years ago, but um, you know, just how far the game’s come 
and just this new crop of players that, uh, are in the NHL now from from US, from Canada, 
from all over the world. But, uh, I think the skill level and the games in in such a great place 
and it’s only going to continue to get better. I don’t remember where I was. Um, but obviously, 
you know, pretty gutted like every other uh American kid that was watching. Um, but uh, yeah, 
you know, I’m sure I was pretty pretty gutted. Uh, yeah, winning the gold medal is, you know, one 
of the biggest honors I think uh, as far as um, I think it’s held in the same regard as winning 
the Stanley Cup. Olympics is the biggest stage in sport and um you know not too many people can 
say they’ve competed in the Olympics nevertheless winning a medal. So um you know there’s only one 
medal you really want to win and that’s gold.

Team USA’s Auston Matthews talks about representing America at the upcoming Olympics, the rivalry between Team USA and Team Canada, what a gold medal would mean to him and more at USA Hockey Olympic Orientation Camp (August 25-28 / Plymouth, MI)

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