ESTERO, Fla. — Auston Matthews stood at the front of the room and immediately jumped into his explanation. He was in a conference room at a Hyatt resort that, it’s safe to say, never hosted a group quite like this. He leaned one arm on the podium, freeing up his other arm to point at the screen to his immediate left showing a goal he scored.



In front of him was an incredible collection of women’s hockey players. American stars like Hilary Knight, Kendall Coyne Schofield and Brianna Decker were mixed in with counterparts from rival Canada like Laura Fortino, Natalie Spooner and Brianne Jenner. A combination of elite hockey players from two hockey superpowers setting aside country for one shared goal: to get incrementally better at their craft. Just like NHL stars did in that room a few days earlier.



First, Matthews lets the clip run in its entirety. It’s a one-timer he scored against the Panthers after a lengthy possession in the offensive zone.