Manitoba native Mateychuk credits family for success

Vauxhall Academy Jets RHP Maddux Mateychuk (Dominion City, Man.) was the sole representative from Manitoba on the Junior National Team this spring. Photo: Brady Reid

March 14, 2020

By Brady Reid

Canadian Baseball Network

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Take one look at pitcher Maddux Mateychuk and the signs are there. A powerful presence on the mound, it’s no mystery as to where his velocity comes from.

Where he comes from is a different matter. He was born in Dominion City, Manitoba and is in rare company - the lone representative from his home province on this year’s Junior National Team.

It’s a fact he isn’t taking for granted.

“Being one of the only ones probably from the province to ever be here, it's definitely nice,” Mateychuk said. “It's taken a lot of hard work to get here but it's pretty unreal.”

Mateychuk, one of five children, doesn’t have to look far for role models in the game. His father, Jason, is a Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame member and former pitcher who named his son after major-league Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux.

The father-son connection has kept the younger Mateychuk interested in the game since day one.

“Just knowing that he was good back in the day and growing up wanting to be like him, I kind of just stuck around (in the game), never got of bored, so I just kept pursuing it and it’s definitely coming along well.”

The athletic gene in the Mateychuk family goes beyond just himself and his father. One of Mateychuk’s brothers, Denton, is a standout hockey player. He recently represented Canada at the Youth Winter Olympics in Switzerland.

Having a brother to help represent their hometown on the national stage is something Mateychuk takes great pride in.

“I think it was pretty surreal at the moment when we each got the call, an unreal moment for both our family and the small town we’re from as well.”

Growing up playing hockey alongside Denton and his younger siblings, the competitive drive in Maddux came at an early age. In fact, he says things are much the same whenever they all get together today.

“We have a mini hockey rink in our basement and that usually turns into a fistfight, a couple two versus one, three versus one (fights), but it definitely gets competitive for sure.”