Auston Matthews shaves trademark moustache after Leafs star reaches fundraising goal

“It feels a little different,” Matthews said Wednesday morning about his smooth-shaven face.

“I think it’s going to take some time for me to get used to. Everybody kind of gave it a little bit of a double take. It definitely feels weird. I didn’t feel like myself when I saw it off, but I might just take a little bit of time to get used to this feeling again.”

When he came to Wednesday’s pre-game team meeting, he got some odd looks.

“I asked who the new guy was in the meeting,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said.

Matthews sent his teammates the photo in a group chat after he shaved to give them the heads up.

“It’s a little bit different. He looks a lot younger,” defenceman Rasmus Sandin said.

“I’d have to agree,” said Matthews. “I feel like I’m 16 again.”

Matthews’ mother, Ema, had said how much she loved her son’s moustache. He sent her and his dad a photo of the new look.

“They’re in shock, a little bit,” he said. “They said the same thing, that I look a lot younger, but I mean, she’s my mom. She’s got to say I look good every time.”

Matthews, who has been sporting that moustache for a couple of years, to the point it became a bit of a trademark, said he would shave it if he raised $134,000 through fan donations. The total surpassed $148,000 by noon Wednesday.

“It means a lot, the support and everything throughout the month,” he said. “Being able to make a difference and an impact, raise awareness for an amazing cause, it means a lot. And if that means having to shave the moustache, then I’m all for it.”