The fan, Grayson, attended the Maple Leafs’ practice on Thursday before their matchup against the Seattle Kraken.
Earlier in the week, just days before Halloween, young Toronto Maple Leafs fan, Grayson won over Leafs nation with his dedicated costume as an Upper Deck Auston Matthews-inspired hockey card. Complete with a full Maple Leafs uniform and Matthews' iconic mustache, Grayson became an instant sensation on social media after a video of him in costume quickly went viral with over one million views.
On Thursday, Grayson was invited to the Maple Leafs' practice, where he not only got to see the team up close but also had an unforgettable encounter with Matthews himself. In a heartwarming video shared by the Leafs, Matthews came out and greeted the young fan.
"You look like me," said Grayson. Matthews, clearly amused, replied, "Yeah, I do look like you. Your mustache is better, though."
Throughout the practice, Grayson was given the full VIP treatment, sitting alongside Leafs President Brendan Shanahan at ice level and even receiving a playful visit from Ryan Reaves when he exited the ice.
In a lighthearted exchange, Reaves engaged in a mock "scuffle" with Grayson, who boldly challenged him to “drop the gloves.” Reaves, never one to shy away from a little fun, replied, “You gotta drop them first; I don’t drop first.” The two shared a helmet tap and laughed off their fight, with Reaves grinning as he said, "See you later, Auston."
As featured on the Leafs’ Instagram, Matthews and Mitch Marner also posed for a picture with the young fan.
[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/p:DBzNIHNtAyR[/embed]
For Grayson, this will certainly be an unforgettable Halloween. The young fan and his Dad, Grant, have made appearances on Breakfast Television, CTV, CBC News, and CP24 Breakfast over the last week – capped off with a meet and greet with the Matthews himself.