Auston Matthews gets standing ovation from Toronto fans after gold medal win
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The men’s hockey captain of the USA team has returned to his NHL home (ScotiaBank Arena in Toronto) and the Canadian faithful could have made things much worse for him during his homecoming.
After helping Team USA beat Canada in the gold medal game, Matthews knew he would return north of the border at some point to continue the 2025-26 NHL season. But despite being part of the team that upset Canada in Milan, the recognition he received was surprisingly positive.
When play was stopped against the Ottawa Senators, led by Matthews’ U.S. teammate Brady Tkachuk, the Maple Leafs recognized three players on their team who represented their country at the Milan Cortina Games.
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Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up before facing the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena on February 28, 2026 in Toronto. (Mark Blinch/NHLI)
After introducing Swedish stars William Nylander and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the arena PA announcer introduced the Leafs’ “gold medal” captain to Matthews, who was initially met with some jeers.
Later, when he was called by the announcer, the entire arena stood up and gave Matthews a standing ovation. So instead of attacking Matthews for what happened overseas, the fans applauded their experienced captain before play restarted.
The TSN broadcast also showed Tkachuk sitting in the Senator’s chair, looking at the video board and smiling when Matthews was called.
Auston Matthews (R) of the United States celebrates after scoring his team’s fifth goal during the men’s ice hockey preliminary round match between the United States and Germany at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, February 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Mathews’ appearance among Team USA stars who visited President Donald Trump and the White House ahead of his State of the Union address triggered serious backlash and criticism.
The players stood their ground after the historic win over Canada, citing their American pride as to why they decided to take the Air Force jet to the White House.
Matthews and the Maple Leafs were facing the Lightning in Tampa Bay before returning home to Canada, and fans at Amalie Arena reacted vociferously to the visitor. Yıldırım fans also applauded him briefly on the ice.
While Matthews enjoyed winning his gold medal, this season has been a difficult one for Toronto. They sit last in the Atlantic Division with a 27-24-9 record (63 points) and have lost three straight games following a 5-2 defeat against the Senators.
Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates the puck in the first period against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on March 1, 2026. (Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
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While Matthews had an assist in the loss, Tkachuk did the same for his winning team. Nylander scored one of the Maple Leafs’ two goals.
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