Bieber, a lifelong Leafs fan, has had a longstanding relationship with Matthews ever since he was drafted by the Leafs in 2016.
Bieber, a lifelong Leafs fan, has had a longstanding relationship with Matthews ever since he was drafted by the Leafs in 2016.
The Toronto Maple Leafs may have found a forward to add upfront.
Just kidding.
But regardless, Canadian pop sensation Justin Bieber is making his case.
In an Instagram post on Thursday, Bieber showcased his impressive hockey skills, going end-to-end in a pickup game, making a nifty move on a defenseman, and sliding the puck into the back of the net. The carousel includes nine images of Bieber partaking in a scrimmage, playing for the ‘South Bay Bullies,’ in addition to the leading video.
The jersey name hinted at it, but you can faintly see the Los Angeles Kings’ emblem at center ice and the retired player banners hanging in the background, suggesting the game is being played at the Toyota Sports Performance Center – the Kings’ practice facility.
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The video caught the attention of many well-known hockey-related figures, including Spittin Chiclets’ Mike Grinnell and the renowned ‘Howies Hockey Tape,’ but the leading comment came from Leafs star Auston Matthews, who praised Bieber for his impressive hockey skills.
Matthews commented “Filth” with a pair of emojis, referring to his highlight-reel goal.
Bieber, who grew up in Stratford, Ontario, has been known as a lifelong Leafs fan for quite some time now. The singer became close with Matthews after he was drafted by the club in 2016, maintaining a longstanding relationship since then.
Bieber has been vocal in his support for the team, posting after wins and milestones on social media, playing shinny with some of the players in previous years, and even designing jerseys and merchandise for the club – the most notable being his ‘Flipside’ jersey, part of the Drew House collection (Bieber's fashion label) which was unveiled in March of 2022.
This isn’t the first time Bieber’s hockey prowess has been in the spotlight. Over the years, glimpses of his playstyle and abilities have surfaced, but most recently, Bieber was the celebrity captain for Team Matthews at the 2024 NHL All-Star game (which was captained by Matthews). Drew House was also the designer behind the All-Star jerseys this year. In the Instagram video, you can see Bieber is donning the All-Star pants as part of his attire on the ice.
The Matthews/Bieber relationship never seems to fail and has continued to evolve into a unique crossover between music and sports in Toronto. Besides, who’s to say that Bieber didn’t learn that move from Matthews during their downtime?
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