Friday afternoon around 4 p.m. at Rockabilly's Grill on Oracle, hockey fans erupted with cheers as Arizona native Auston Matthews was selected first overall in the 2016 NHL Draft.
Auston's aunt and uncle are owner's of the sports bar, but were in Buffalo to watch their nephew get picked by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The couple still held a viewing party for friends and family in Tucson.
"He's a wonderful boy, he's just such a great kid," says Cherie Shields, the mother of Auston's uncle.
The 18-year old Scottsdale native and USA Hockey team member fell in love with the game after going to his first Coyotes game at the age of 3. He now has a great opportunity to get into the Leaf's lineup immediately.
Matthews is the first Arizonan and the seventh American-born player selected first overall in the NHL Draft. The last was Patrick Kane in the 2007 NHL Draft.
"It's an honor and such a storied franchise... it's a dream come true," Matthews said after taking the stage in Buffalo.
