Matthews reacts to official cancellation of 2020 World Cup

The Leafs superstar reflects on his debut with Team North America and shares his disappointment in yesterday’s news.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 5 years ago
Matthews reacts to official cancellation of 2020 World Cup

Flash back to September of 2016: The Toronto Maple Leafs had just drafted American Auston Matthews first overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft just months earlier and now the budding young superstar was about to get his first taste of NHL hockey… just not with the Leafs, but with the one off Team North America in the 2016 Word Cup of Hockey.

Remember when the roof of the ACC blew off after Matthews’ first goal courtesy of a sweet Connor McDavid pass?



Oh and then there was this incredible play from his knees later in the tournament against Sweden:



A thing of beauty…

In case you missed it, the NHL and NHLPA officially announced yesterday that the 2020 World Cup of Hockey will not take place… despite having 20 months to coordinate the event.



This means that without a World Cup or Olympics on the table for NHL players, Matthews will not have a chance to play for team USA in ANY international “best on best” for at least the first half decade of his career, something that the young superstar is not happy about.

Check it out:



Can’t say we blame the kid… I mean, imagine a team USA line with Matthews at centre with Jack Eichel and Johnny Gaudreau on his wing. Or imagine seeing Matthews and McDavid going head to head in an epic USA vs Canada matchup? Ugh… thanks again, Gary Bettman.

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