Dylan Smoskowitz spotted Lucas Matheson across the ice at Sadlon Arena and skated over.
The annual Boots & Hearts Barn Burner Charity Hockey Game always draws a crowd, and this month’s edition was no different. The Barrie Colts head coach asked the 16-year-old—the club’s first-round pick in this year’s OHL Priority Selection—if this was the biggest crowd he had ever played in front of.
“He just looked at me and said, ‘Of course it is. There’s like 3,000 more people than I’ve ever played in front of,’” Smoskowitz recalled. “He was spectacular in that game.”
While there won’t be as many seats filled when Matheson steps onto the Sadlon Arena ice Monday morning for Colts training camp, the Barrie native admits to feeling a few jitters. He’s waited for this moment since putting on a Colts jersey back in June.
“It’s obviously been a long wait,” Matheson said. “You go through the whole draft process, and you feel like you’re going through a lot. Then it settles down for a while. To know that you can start to ramp it up—and that the season starts right after camp—I’m looking forward to finally getting it going.”
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The highly touted prospect grew up watching the Colts. He and his family were season-ticket holders, and the former Barrie minor hockey star often dropped by to catch training camp sessions.
“Almost every year for the past four years, I’ve gone to watch the blue-and-white games,” said Matheson, who was invited to Canada’s national under-17 development camp earlier this summer. “I got to see the pace of play and see the coaches and GM up in the stands, so I’ve gotten a taste of it.”
Dreaming of one day taking that same ice in his hometown was a constant.
“One hundred percent,” he said. “We’ve had season tickets forever. I’ve been going to games since before I could remember, back when it was still the Molson Centre. Seeing all the players come through the organization and realizing I’m going to be one of them is pretty cool.”
Matheson knows there will be many eyes on him this week. A first-round selection brings high expectations—and playing in your hometown only amplifies the pressure for a teenager. Still, he views the spotlight as a privilege.
“I think it’s just more of an opportunity for me,” Matheson said. “This has honestly been one of my dreams, to play in Barrie in the OHL. The nerves will come, but right now I’m just really excited for what I’ve gotten myself into.”
Smoskowitz hopes Matheson and the rest of the incoming draft class enjoy the moment rather than putting unnecessary weight on their shoulders.
“They’ve all had big summers working with their trainers, nutritionists, and skills coaches,” Smoskowitz said. “Now is when it pays off, and you get to showcase all that hard work.”
His main directive for the rookie blueliner? Play your game.
“The worst thing a player can do is try to be something they’re not,” Smoskowitz explained. “You’re not going to impress the world and make the team in one shift. It’s a consistent effort. Know your strengths and weaknesses, and how you can help the team win. Come Monday morning, we’re evaluating guys. It’s not about who’s the nicest or biggest kid—I want players who are going to help this team win.”
At 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, the right-shot defenseman models his game after Montreal Canadiens standout Lane Hutson.
“He’s smooth-skating, smart with the puck, and plays with an edge,” Smoskowitz said of Matheson. “He’s a smaller guy, but he likes to battle and compete. I expect him to bring that every single shift. If he gives us a chance to win, we’re going to put him on the ice a lot.”
Matheson’s skating pedigree comes naturally. His father, Paul, is co-owner of the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, has worked as a consultant for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and has coached numerous NHL and OHL players.
Lucas is quick to note that his father’s guidance extends well beyond edge work.
“It’s crazy how helpful he’s been, not just with skating,” Matheson said. “He’s surrounded by the hockey world and knows what it takes. He’ll come home from work and share the habits he sees in top players, and I can pick up on that. The skating has helped me a ton, but his broader experience has been huge for me.”
The Colts view the rookie blueliner as a potential offensive catalyst. The club traded veteran defenceman Cole Emerton to Sarnia earlier this offseason, largely to clear a path for Matheson’s development.
“I saw it last year in a few U16 games, but he really showcased his ability at the U17 Team Canada camp, which we were both a part of,” said Smoskowitz, who served on the camp’s coaching staff. “Going against the best players his age in the country, there weren’t many who could skate with Lucas, or stop him when he had his eyes up working the blueline.
“Once he gets some reps and experience, look out when he’s 18 or 19. He could be challenging some of the top power-play quarterbacks we’ve had in Barrie over the last few years.”
Fully recovered from a broken ankle that kept him out of last year’s OHL Cup, Matheson spent the summer training with Colts strength coach Isaiah Moreira to add strength and durability.
“People are going to look at me as undersized, but I think I skate better and do a lot of things better than a 6-foot-4 defenseman,” Matheson said. “I put more into the training side to give myself that extra edge.”
Now, the waiting is over.
“It’s going to be so much fun,” Matheson said. “I can’t wait for the opportunity to wear the Colts crest at a higher level.”
