Is Team USA Ice Hockey Captain Auston Matthews in a Relationship?
Auston Matthews is one to watch on the Team USA men’s ice hockey team competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Ahead of the Games, Matthews, who plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL, was named the USA team captain.
“It is crazy to think now we are here, and we get this opportunity, and it is very special,” Matthews said. “Extremely honored to represent [my] country and wear the Team USA jersey. It means that much more doing it somewhere like the Olympics.”
With Matthews in the spotlight, many fans are wondering about his love life. Scroll down for what we know about whether or not he’s in a relationship.
Is Auston Matthews in a relationship?
Yes, Matthews is in a relationship with Emily Ruttledge. While the two are extremely private about their romance (she does not even have a public Instagram page), it’s been reported that they’ve been dating for years.
Who is Auston Matthews’ girlfriend?
Ruttledge lives in Santa Monica, California, which means that she and Matthews must maintain a long-distance relationship while he’s playing hockey in Canada and on the road.
She works as a therapist at Lightfully Behavioral Health, a position she’s held since March 2024, per LinkedIn. Ruttledge announced in early 2026 that she officially became a licensed therapist in the state of California.
Ruttledge attended Arizona State University and graduated in 2020 with a degree in human development and family studies. She then obtained her master’s degree from Pepperdine University, majoring in clinical psychology.
How did Auston Matthews meet his girlfriend?
While it’s not confirmed how they met, Matthews and Ruttledge both grew up in Arizona, and are rumored to be childhood friends. Although Matthews ended up going to high school in Michigan, there’s a photo online of him and Ruttledge seemingly attending prom together circa 2016.
2026 Winter Olympics, Check Local Listings, NBC and Peacock
