Auston Matthews is expected to be taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL draft Friday night. When he is selected, he will join a very short list of players with Hispanic-American heritage to play in the NHL.

Matthews is coming off a dominant performance for Team USA at the world championships, as he tied for third in the competition with six goals and added three assists.

Matthews’ background

Matthews comes from about as unlikely a background as you could imagine for a hockey player, as he was raised in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Aside from growing up playing hockey in the desert, Matthews has one other uncommon trait for a hockey player: He is of Hispanic-American descent.

Matthews’ father is originally from California, but his mother was born in Mexico.

Other notable Hispanic NHL players

Scott Gomez (Hispanic-American)

Heritage: Mexican and Colombian

Gomez was a consistent presence on two Stanley Cup champions, winning with the New Jersey Devils in 2000 and 2003. Gomez was viewed as a great passer early in his career, and he finished tied for the NHL lead in assists (56) with the Devils in 2003-04.

Gomez won the Calder Trophy in 1999-2000 as the league’s top rookie.

Al Montoya (Hispanic-American)

Heritage: Cuban

Players of Cuban heritage are common in MLB, but they are extremely rare in professional hockey. Montoya has bounced around the league during his career as a backup.

In his past two seasons with the Florida Panthers, Montoya has an 18-14-5 record, collecting 41 of a possible 74 points (.554 points percentage).

Bill Guerin (Hispanic-American)

Heritage: Nicaraguan

Guerin is believed to be the first player of Hispanic-American descent to play in the NHL. Guerin made four NHL All-Star teams and played for Team USA in the Olympics three times.

He was part of the 2009 Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins as well as the 1995 champion Devils. He was also on the 1996 USA roster for the inaugural World Cup of Hockey, which the Americans won.

Raffi Torres (Hispanic-Canadian)

Heritage: Mexican and Peruvian

Torres was best known for being a pure enforcer, a rarity in today’s NHL. Torres’ career high for points is just 41, which he reached in his second season with the Edmonton Oilers.

Torres has not played in the NHL since the 2013-14 season with the San Jose Sharks.

It remains to be seen what Matthews will become. With the limited number of Hispanic-American players in the NHL’s history, Matthews will be given an opportunity to be the first NHL great of such heritage.