Auston Matthews Tears Up as He Recalls Morher’s Big Sacrifice: “Was Very Expensive”

For Auston Matthews, the face of the Toronto Maple Leafs and one of the most prolific players in the NHL, the story begins not with goals or accolades. But with his family’s long-standing support. Especially from his mother, who was balancing two jobs to keep his dream alive. And in a recent moment in social media that transcended sport, Matthews opened up more about his childhood.

In a touching video, Auston was tearing up as he spoke about the lengths his mom went to so he could play hockey. From mornings at Starbucks to afternoons at a restaurant, Auston’s mother’s tireless grind was more than just work; it was love. “We were struggling and we knew hockey was very expensive,” Ema Matthews said. As Matthews choked back tears in the video, it became clear: his journey to NHL stardom is as much his mother’s triumph as it is his own.

“I worked for Starbucks,” Auston Matthews’ mother, Ema, said. “And back then I met a customer who offered me a job as a hostess in a restaurant and I took it. So I used to work in the morning for Starbucks, in the afternoon in the restaurants.” Those were the words of the mother, recalling a time when dreams were costly and comfort was a luxury.

“I was very fortunate to have two jobs. And believe me, if they would have more hours, I would have more jobs.” But mind you, she wasn’t just chasing paychecks. She was chasing the possibility for her son’s dreams.

WATCH: Auston Matthews tears up and gets emotional talking about the sacrifices his mom had to make when he was growing up.

This is what hockey is all about

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— Leafslatest (@Leafslatest) May 14, 2025

Auston couldn’t hold back when reflecting on her sacrifices. “I get pretty emotional about it too,” he admitted, his eyes glistening. “Because they did a lot for me growing up.” “I don’t like getting emotional, but when I think about my parents, they obviously, like any parent, sacrificed quite a bit,” he reflected. “It’s tough reflecting just because we went through a lot of hard times. They kind of get a ride along with me too, so it’s pretty special.”

Auston Matthews’ journey from Arizona to the NHL reflects his mother’s relentless drive

This raw display serves as a stark reminder of what lies beneath the game of ice, not just grit and training, but family, love, and sacrifice. Matthews’ vulnerability reminds us that behind every NHL star are parents scraping, saving, and sacrificing for the shot at a dream. Matthews, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ franchise centerpiece, was able to peel off the glossy layer of pro sports fame. Instead of stats or accolades, viewers were offered something far more powerful: the truth behind his journey.

Born in California and raised in Arizona, Auston Matthews wasn’t your conventional hockey prodigy. The climate wasn’t ideal, and neither were the finances. Yet, what the family lacked in resources, they made up for in resilience. His mother Ema’s grind became the foundation of his game. She was clocking hours so he could chase pucks and his dreams. 

Auston’s mother saying she would’ve taken more jobs if she could have is the sheer commitment that fuels a player like Matthews. Not just ambition. Not just talent. But love that worked double shifts and skipped sleep. And that’s what hockey, at its core, is all about.

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