MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Jets’ Shawn Matthias (16) on a breakaway is called for holding Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews (34) during the game at the MTS Centre Wednesday evening.
As origin stories go, Auston Matthews has a dandy:
A kid growing up in the desert (of all places) falls in love with ice hockey (of all sports) when his father and uncle take him to see the Phoenix Coyotes (of all teams) at the age of two.
Good story, as far as it goes.
But that’s the thing — it doesn’t go far enough.