Auston Matthews Settles Into Olympic Life as Team USA Hits the Ice in Milan
After months of anticipation and speculation, it’s finally real - Auston Matthews has landed in Milan, laced up for Team USA, and taken his first Olympic practice shift. For the Maple Leafs captain, who’s no stranger to the international stage, the moment carried weight. From the Olympic Village to the ice surface, Matthews is soaking it all in - jet lag and all.
“It really hits you when you land,” Matthews said after getting his first skate in with Team USA. “You get to the Village, unpack, get settled… and then you’re out there with the guys. It’s special.”
The buzz around this Olympic tournament has been building for months, and for Matthews, stepping onto the ice brought it all into focus. The arena?
Impressive. The ice?
Not perfect - but that’s part of the game.
“It looks good, inside and out,” Matthews said. “A lot of teams have been on it already, so it was a little chewed up.
But it felt fine. Ice isn’t always great - it’s not great in Toronto either - so you just live with it.
It’ll get better as the tournament goes on.”
That’s the kind of grounded perspective you expect from a guy who’s logged plenty of miles in the NHL and knows how to manage expectations. And speaking of miles - the long flight over didn’t faze him.
Matthews said he slept nearly the entire way, waking up just 30 minutes before touchdown. Not a bad way to beat jet lag.
Still, even for a seasoned pro, the first practice after a transatlantic trip isn’t exactly smooth sailing.
“It wasn’t the cleanest or crispest,” Matthews admitted. “But it’s good to just get out there, get a sweat, and start adjusting to the time zone.
The first couple of days are always the hardest when you travel overseas. You’ve got to get your body clock reset as quickly as possible.”
Once settled in, Matthews has been enjoying life in the Olympic Village - tight quarters, sure, but the kind of environment that builds chemistry fast. He’s rooming with Dylan Larkin, a familiar face and longtime friend.
“It’s cool,” Matthews said. “It’s tight, but it’s great to be together - whether it’s heading to the dining hall or just hanging out. You realize how special it is to be here.”
Team USA Lines Come Into Focus
As the Americans hit the ice, we got a look at how the forward lines and defensive pairings are shaping up. Here’s how things looked:
Forwards:
- Brady Tkachuk - Jack Eichel - Matthew Tkachuk
- Jake Guentzel - Auston Matthews - Matt Boldy
- Kyle Connor - Dylan Larkin - Tage Thompson
- J.T. Miller - Brock Nelson/Vincent Trocheck - Jack Hughes
- Clayton Keller (extra)
Defense:
- Quinn Hughes - Charlie McAvoy
- Jaccob Slavin - Brock Faber
- Noah Hanifin - Zach Werenski
- Jake Sanderson - Jackson LaCombe
Head coach Jon Cooper has options, and he’s clearly taking advantage of the depth at his disposal. The practice may have been closed to media, but Cooper confirmed there were no major shakeups - just some special teams work to build early chemistry.
“There’s nothing super-secret going on,” Cooper said. “We just wanted to get a little work in on the power play and penalty kill. That’s a big part of this tournament.”
Cooper on Preparation and Leadership
Cooper also shed light on how Team USA has been preparing behind the scenes - and it’s been a long-term project. Systems were installed months ago, and players had access to them via an app. Every week, they’d get a couple of systems to review - a gradual download that allowed them to absorb the playbook without disrupting their NHL seasons.
“We’ve had everything in place for six months,” Cooper said. “We didn’t want to interfere with their day jobs, but we wanted to make sure they were ready.
By the time they got here, they knew what to expect. And this group?
They did their homework.”
That includes veteran forward Brad Marchand, who Cooper couldn’t help but praise.
“When it’s all said and done in my career, Marchy is going to go down as one of my favorites I’ve ever coached,” he said.
Marchand’s value goes beyond his on-ice contributions. In a room full of alpha personalities and Olympic-level intensity, he’s the guy who knows when to bring some levity.
“There’s so much focus and intensity in a tournament like this, but Marchy has a gift,” Cooper said. “He knows exactly when to lighten the mood.
His timing is perfect - it could be the goofiest thing, but it works. That’s a rare quality.”
As for the decision to room Marchand with Drew Doughty - Cooper suspects that may have been a veteran move on their part.
“They probably switched it,” he said with a grin. “Veteran moves.”
Canada’s Lines Also Revealed
Meanwhile, north of the border, Team Canada hit the ice with their own star-studded lineup. Here’s how their lines looked during the first practice:
Forwards:
- Macklin Celebrini - Connor McDavid - Tom Wilson
- Brad Marchand - Nathan MacKinnon - Nick Suzuki
- Mark Stone - Sidney Crosby - Mitch Marner
- Brandon Hagel - Bo Horvat - Sam Reinhart
- Seth Jarvis, Sam Bennett (extras)
Defense:
- Devon Toews - Cale Makar
- Josh Morrissey - Colton Parayko
- Thomas Harley - Drew Doughty
- Shea Theodore - Travis Sanheim
No shortage of firepower there, either. With both rosters now in Milan and practices underway, the Olympic men’s hockey tournament is officially heating up.
For Team USA, the early focus is on building chemistry, adjusting to the time zone, and staying healthy. But make no mistake - with leaders like Matthews and Marchand setting the tone, this group is locked in.
The stage is set. The stars have arrived. Let the games begin.