Scottsdale’s Auston Matthews is NHL’s top pick

Jun 24, 2016, 4:45 PM | Updated: 5:11 pm

Auston Matthews of USA celebrates after scoring to take the score to 3-0, during the 2016 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships quarterfinal match between USA and Czech Republic in Helsinki, Finland, on January 2nd, 2016. (Roni Rekomaa / Lehtikuva via AP) FINLAND OUT - NO SALES

(Roni Rekomaa / Lehtikuva via AP)

BY CRAIG MORGAN

Arizona Sports

Auston Matthews became just the second Arizona raised player ever selected first overall in a major North American pro sports league when the Toronto Maple Leafs took him first in Friday’s NHL Draft at First Niagara Center in Buffalo.

The Scottsdale native was expected to go first after posting 24 goals and 48 points last year while dominating the Swiss pro league as an 18-year-old. He was NHL Central Scouting’s top-ranked prospect and he is expected to play in the NHL this fall.

Matthews was born in San Francisco but moved to Arizona when he was an infant. Matthews attended his first Coyotes game when he was 3 years old and said it served as an inspiration for playing hockey. He started playing when he was 5, starring for local teams such as the Junior Coyotes and the Bobcats before joining the U.S. National Team Development Program at age 16. He won a gold medal with the American team at the 2014 and 2015 U-18 World Championship and also won bronze at the 2016 World Junior Championship.

Matthews is just the seventh American to go first overall in the NHL Draft.

“It’s a dream come true,” Mathews told NBCSN. “The growth in the southwest now and also other parts of the country are rapidly growing so just to be a part of it is pretty unique.”

Here is a list of the top Arizona-raised picks in each major sport, prior to Matthews’ selection.

MLB: Bob Horner (Glendale), Atlanta, No. 1 overall in 1978
NFL: Dion Jordan (Chandler), Miami, No. 3 overall in 2003
NHL: Sean Couturier (Phoenix), Philadelphia, No. 8 overall in 2011
NBA: Mike Bibby (Phoenix), Vancouver, No. 2 overall in 1998
WNBA: Nicole Powell (Phoenix), Charlotte, No. 3 overall in 2004
MLS: Nick DeLeon, (Phoenix), DC United, No. 7 overall in 2012

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Pierre-Luc Dubois, third from left, third overall pick, stands with members of the Columbus Blue Jackets management team at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Jesse Puljujarvi, fourth overall pick, pulls on his sweater as he stands on stage after being selected by the Edmonton Oilers at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Jesse Puljujarvi, center, fourth overall pick, stands with members of the Edmonton Oilers management team and others at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Olli Juolevi, fifth overall pick, stands on stage with members of the Vancouver Canucks management team at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Olli Juolevi, second from left, fifth overall pick, puts on his sweater as he stands with members of the Vancouver Canucks management team at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Matthew Tkachuk, second from left, sixth overall pick, stands on stage with members of the Calgary Flames management team and others at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Matthew Tkachuk, center, sixth overall pick, pulls on his sweater as he stands on stage with members of the Calgary Flames management team and others at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Clayton Keller, seventh overall pick, stands on stage with members of the Arizona Coyotes management team at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Clayton Keller, seventh overall pick, is given a hat as he stands on stage with members of the Arizona Coyotes management team at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Alexander Nylander, eighth overall pick, puts on his sweater as he stands on stage with members of the Buffalo Sabres management team at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Mikhail Sergachev, ninth overall pick, puts on his sweater as he stands on stage with members of the Montreal Canadiens management team at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Mikhail Sergachev, fourth from right, ninth overall pick, stands with members of the Montreal Canadiens management team and others at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Pierre-Luc Dubois, second from right, third overall pick, puts on his sweater as he stands with members of the Columbus Blue Jackets management team at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Tyson Jost, center, tenth overall pick, puts on his sweater as he stands with members of the Colorado Avalanche management team at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Tyson Jost, 10th overall pick, stands on stage with members of the Colorado Avalanche management team at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Logan Brown, right, pulls on his sweater as he stands with members of the Ottawa Senators management team at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Logan Brown, second from left, stands with members of the Ottawa Senators management team at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Logan Brown pulls on his sweater as he stands on stage with members of the Ottawa Senators management team at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

The NHL top three draft picks, Patrik Laine, Winnipeg Jets; Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs; and Pierre-Luc Dubois, Columbus Blue Jackets, pose for a photo at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Michael McLeod, center, puts on his sweater as he stands with members of the New Jersey Devils management team and others at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Jake Bean outs on a Carolina Hurricanes sweater at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Charlie McAvoy, second from left, puts on his sweater as he stands on stage with members of the Boston Bruins management team and others at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Charlie McAvoy, second from left, stands on stage with members of the Boston Bruins management team and others at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Jake Bean stands on stage with members of the Carolina Hurricanes management team at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Luke Kunin, second from right, puts on his sweater as he stands with members of the Minnesota Wild management team at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Luke Kunin stands on stage with members of the Minnesota Wild management team at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs pick Auston Matthews pulls on his sweater at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Jakob Chychrun, left, puts on his sweater as he stands with members of the Arizona Coyotes management team at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Dante Fabbro, enter, puts on his sweater as he stands with members of the Nashville Predators management team at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Jakob Chychrun stands on stage with members of the Arizona Coyotes management team at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Dante Fabbro, center, stands with members of the Nashville Predators management team at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Toronto Maple Leafs pick Auston Matthews shakes hands with Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Logan Stanley, third from left, stands with members of the Winnipeg Jets management team and others at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Kieffer Bellows, center, stands with members of the New York Islanders management team and others at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Kieffer Bellows puts on his sweater as he stands on stage with members of the New York Islanders management team at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Dennis Cholowski, center, puts on his sweater with members of the Detroit Red Wings management team and others at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Julien Gauthier, center, stands with members of the Carolina Hurricanes management team at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Dennis Cholowski, center, stands on stage with members of the Detroit Red Wings management team and others at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

German Rubtsov, center, puts on his sweater as he stands with members of the Philadelphia Flyers management team at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

German Rubtsov stands on stage with members of the Philadelphia Flyers management team at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Henrik Borgstrom, center, stands on stage with members of the Florida Panthers management team at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs first overall pick Auston Matthews, center, pulls on his sweater as he stand with members of the Maple Leafs management team at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello, center, helps first overall pick Auston Matthews who puts on his sweater at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Toronto Maple Leafs first overall pick Auston Matthews, fourth from left, stands with members of the Maple Leafs management team at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Patrik Laine, center, second overall pick, stands with members of the Winnipeg Jets management team at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Patrik Laine, second from right, second overall pick, pulls on his sweater as he stands with members of the Winnipeg Jets management team at the NHL draft in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday June 24, 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

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