Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies is one of 44 players that will attend USA Hockey’s Men’s Olympic Orientation Camp, the organization announced on Tuesday. The event, which will take place August 26-27 in Plymouth, Michigan, will also include Auston Matthews. Matthews was already named to Team USA as one of their 'First Six’ participants. This gathering is described as an administrative and team-building event that will feature no formal on-ice activity or public component.‘First
While Knies did not participate in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament this past summer, he has previously represented the U.S. on the world stage. Knies played for Team USA at the 2022 Olympics in China, where he recorded a goal and an assist in four games during a time when NHL players were not participating. The NHL’s participation will resume at the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014. The 22-year-old Knies also represented the USA at the 2022 World Juniors.
Knies shared his excitement about the potential opportunity last month on Daily Faceoff’s Morning Cuppa Hockey podcast. “Obviously it would be a huge honour to make that team and to get to represent them again on that stage, that’d be pretty surreal,” Knies said. “I have to earn the opportunity to make that roster, and I know it’s not going to be easy; there are a lot of names that deserve to be there,” he added.
Knies’s chances of making the team will largely depend on how well the forward starts his 2025-26 with the Leafs. The forward signed a six-year contract extension this summer worth an average of $7.75 million per season. He established career highs last season with 29 goals and 29 assists in 78 games. Knies also impressed in the playoffs with five goals and two assists in 13 games.
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