In October 2024, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube publicly held star center Auston Matthews accountable during a game against the St. Louis Blues. After Matthews was on the ice for the Blues’ third goal, Berube was seen giving him an animated reprimand on the bench.
Berube explained this action as a matter of team-wide accountability, stating, “It’s just accountability to everybody. That’s all it is. It’s nothing personal. It’s just me being a coach and doing what I think is right at the time.”
Matthews acknowledged the incident, noting that such interactions are part of the sport. He emphasized the respect the team has for Berube, saying, “We obviously all respect him and his presence and everything on the bench. It’s not anything you take personal.”
This event marked a notable instance of Berube’s coaching approach, emphasizing accountability and direct communication, even with high-profile players like Matthews.
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