Every young hockey player in Canada dreams of the day they get the call to the NHL, and for Denton Mateychuk, that dream came true just before Christmas.
The defenseman from the small town of Dominion City, Manitoba, has now made his NHL debut with the Columbus Blue Jackets, turning years of dedication and perseverance into a reality on the biggest stage.
“There’s a lot of thoughts that go through your head when you first get the call-up,” Mateychuk says. “Now I’ve been up for a couple of weeks, and it starts to become a little bit more real the more you’re up there. And it’s a lot of reflection on the work I’ve put in over the years and even throughout this year, so, there's a lot of emotion in that.”
The road to the NHL
Mateychuk’s path to the NHL wasn’t instantaneous as he started the season in the AHL with the Cleveland Monsters. It would have been easy to let disappointment take over, but he remained patient and focused.
“I just wanted to go out there at camp and show my game,” he explains. “I just tried to take it and keep working and not get down on myself just because I’m not there yet. I know it’s a process, and it’s not a race to get there. I just tried to keep a positive mentality and now I’ve got the chance to play games.”
A surprise call-up
Just before the Christmas break, Mateychuk explains that he went to the rink for his AHL game and noticed his name was not on the lineup sheet.
“I was a bit confused. Then coach called me in right away and he said that you’re going up. It was like a flight of emotions. I wasn’t really expecting it that close to the break. But then it happened. It’s just an awesome feeling. And then being able to tell my family and get them up there for the game was pretty special.”
Mateychuk’s family was thrilled for his NHL debut, and it showed.
“I called my dad first, he didn’t answer, so I called my mom, and she was very emotional about it, and she was really proud of me. Then my dad was the same thing.”
Their initial reaction was to ask how they could attend the game, and before long, they were on a plane to watch their son kick off his NHL career.
The entire province of Manitoba, and especially Dominion City, rallied behind him, making his NHL debut even more meaningful.
“It’s pretty cool that people have that support in me, and it’s a pretty cool feeling. And I don’t take it for granted,” he says.
Hitting the ice
The moment became real when he stepped into the dressing room and saw a Blue Jackets jersey with ‘Mateychuk’ on the back.
“It’s pretty surreal. It’s something you dream about as a kid. All those times going to the rink, you’re trying to be like Sidney Crosby or whoever it is, and finally playing at that level, it’s pretty cool and it was definitely a bit sentimental for sure.”
Mateychuk shares that his first NHL game became even more memorable as he took part in another tradition.
“I got the rookie lap, and that was pretty cool. I don't know if I could really feel my legs going out there, it’s something else.”
The nerves, the excitement, the sheer joy was all part of each moment in his career. And soon after, he got another unforgettable experience, his first NHL goal.
“It was pretty special," he says. "My dad was there for that, just that singular game, and to be able to score, it was kind of just a blackout after it happened. And then I watched it back, and it was a pretty awesome moment.”
Mateychuk’s journey carried extra significance when he lined up against a familiar face, his second cousin and longtime teammate, Owen Pickering.
“We’ve been playing against each other or with each other, pretty much our whole lives, since we were kids. And it’s pretty, pretty cool to be able to share the ice with him at that stage, and that’s something I’ll probably never forget.”
Looking ahead
Transitioning from the WHL to the AHL and now the NHL, he aims to adapt and refine his game on the blue line.
“It’s definitely a bit different," Mateychuk says. "You’re going up against men, not going up against a 16-year-old anymore like in the Western league. All those guys, they play hard and they’re physical, and you have to be ready for that at all times. I think that it’s something you pick up on quickly, and then it just comes second nature once you get the hang of it.”
As he looks to establish himself in the league, his focus remains sharp.
“It’s just keeping that confidence and playing the right way,” Mateychuk says. “It’s pretty easy to sit back and just fit in. But I think you got to kind of push the pace. For my game, pushing the pace is pretty important.”
Mateychuk stays grounded and determined as he continues to pursue his dream.
“I think I’ve always had that belief in myself that I’m ready to play at this level. You start to feel it out in the first couple games and now I feel like I belong. There’s always going to be some mistakes and stuff, but that’s just hockey.”
His family, his hometown, and an entire province are cheering him on as he takes the ice for his first game back after the break and every game to come.
From backyard rinks in Manitoba to NHL arenas, Mateychuk is building a successful career.
With files from Dave Anthony