1. Bio info:Mateychuk is a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, but grew up in Dominion City, a town of just over 300 people that is within minutes of the U.S. border. There is no shortage of athleticism in the family, though, as his brother Maddux plays baseball at Campbellsville University in Kentucky and his two younger brothers also play hockey. His cousin, Owen Pickering, was chosen 21st overall by Pittsburgh as well.
Video: Mateychuk selected 12th overall
2. Stats:Mateychuk is a defenseman with offensive ability, tying for fifth in the WHL in points among blueliners just behind No. 7 overall pick Kevin Korchinski. Mateychuk posted a 13-51-64 line in 65 games in his first full WHL campaign with Moose Jaw and added 10 points in 10 postseason games. Before this year, the pandemic had limited him to just 23 games with the Warriors, with the smooth-skating defenseman posting a 3-8-11 line in those contests.
3. The experts say:The 5-11, 188-pound Mateychuk finished as the No. 14-rated skater in North America according to NHL Central Scouting. His calling card is his skating and his offensive ability, leading to some to compare him to a possible Cale Makar type down the road.
Writes Chris Peters of The Daily Faceoff
: "A high-end, playmaking defenseman who has excellent mobility thanks to superior edge work and skating ability, Mateychuk might not get as much love as some of the next-tier defensemen because of his average size. That said, he's not so small that it will distract anyone from what he's able to do with the puck on his stick. He reads defenses well, gets pucks to the right places at the right time and has supreme confidence in his overall ability."
The Draft Prospects Hockey Handbook
adds, "A puck moving, offensive defender who is excellent in the transitional areas of the game. … Displays excellent puck carrying skills and is a capable and confident puck carrier who is willing to drive deep into the offensive zone. Shows near elite vision and can consistently make seeing eye passes to his teammates with a variety of techniques. ... Has areas to improve on, but with his vision, passing, creativity, and puck skill, he has all the components to become an offensive force from the back end." Mateychuk himself says he models his game after Boston defenseman Charlie McAvoy.
4. Fun facts: Mateychuk won't have far to go to find someone to chat CBJ with, as 2021 Jackets seventh-round pick Martin Rysavy plays junior hockey with Moose Jaw as well. As for where Mateychuk gets his high-level skating ability, he can credit his mother, who was a figure skater and currently works as a power skating instructor.
5. Here's what's next:Mateychuk will likely continue to ply his trade and add strength to his game while skating with Moose Jaw, where he should again be one of the top scoring defensemen in the Western. Hockey League.
