Auston Matthews is ready to play on Olympic ice. NHL players will be playing in the Olympics for the first time since 2014, and anticipation for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina is already increasing. And thanks to Matthews, the USA–Canada rivalry has officially been reignited months before the first puck drops.In a video posted Tuesday on X, Matthews spoke candidly about the long-standing tension between the two hockey powers. When asked to describe the rivalry, he didn’t hesitate:"I think the rivalry with Canada was, or is, you know, pretty, pretty bitter, I'd say," Matthews said. "Obviously, a lot of prideful countries, respectively. And, you know, I see it firsthand every day playing in Toronto. "And so, it's definitely great for the game. Obviously, they have a great team. There's a lot of really good countries, a lot of great teams in their respective countries. But I definitely think that rivalry between USA and Canada is very special."This fiery energy echoes recent tensions at the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off in February. In it, the political undertones and hostile crowds amplified the on-ice battles. Three fights broke out within the first nine seconds of one game in Montreal, and Canada ultimately edged the U.S. 3-2 in overtime of the final. It could be considered a fuel for their Olympic clash.Despite playing in a passionate Canadian market for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews insists it’s easy to keep allegiances straight. "I mean, I think it's pretty easy to separate the two, to be honest," Matthews said. "And, unfortunately, it's been, you know, in my time in the NHL, I haven't played in any best on best, or we haven't had any Olympics, international tournaments. I haven't competed in the World Championships since my draft year. "So, I think it's pretty easy to separate the two, but obviously, you know, in the next coming years, having the opportunity to play in the Olympics, having the World Cup every two years. It's definitely exciting for me, but I think some people in Toronto think I’m Canadian,"Auston Matthews is eager to represent Team USA on the world stage.New 'Canadian Tears' Olympic ad featuring Auston MatthewsThe rivalry between Canada and the USA heated up again this week, thanks to a new Olympics commercial featuring actor Jon Hamm. In the ad, Hamm delivered a dramatic locker-room speech to the first six announced members of Team USA, including Auston Matthews. The moment shifted from serious to cheeky when Jack Eichel jokingly responded to Hamm’s motivation with, "Canadian tears." The room erupted, pushing the rivalry narrative into full gear.All eyes now turn to February 2026, when both teams open play on Feb. 12. USA begins against Latvia, and Canada faces Czechia. A full single-elimination playoff will lead to the gold medal game on Feb. 22.