"It's a great story," Mike Babcock said. "This kid's a good kid. He's worked real hard. No one would probably expect him to be here. And, you know I hate to say it but I'm even glad he scored last night to tell you the truth."
Before going to the media room for his normal post-game scrum, Mike Babcock wanted to find Mayhew, congratulate him and send proof to his son that he got a chance to see him.
So he took out his phone and snapped a selfie with the rookie forward and texted it to Michael.
"It was a good moment," Babcock said. "[Michael] was pumped for him."
Central is one of the blue bloods of Michigan high school hockey, while Roosevelt was an underdog the year Mayhew led the team to the championship.
Still, Mayhew said he was a little surprised to see the Maple Leafs coach looking for him after the game.
"I didn't think he'd remember me," Mayhew said. "But he's a really nice guy and he came over and congratulated me, asked if my parents were around because he knows them as well. Just took a selfie with him and that was that."
It certainly was a humbling moment as well for Mayhew, who grew up a big Red Wings fan when Babcock was the coach of the team.
But a veteran coach of more than 1,200 games behind the bench in search of a 26-year-old rookie who just completed his first game? And asking for a selfie no less?
That's something that doesn't happen every day.
"Pretty random," said Mayhew, who was clearly touched by the gesture. "You don't come to the rink thinking the opposing coach is going to take a selfie with you. But it's pretty cool."
"It was pretty awesome. It just goes to show that hockey is more than just a business. There's a lot of friendships too."
Steve Keogh and Aaron Sickman contributed to this story