How Matthew Schaefer Turned Unimaginable Tragedy Into NHL Stardom
The moment that stopped the hockey world in its tracks just happened.
When 17-year-old Matthew Schaefer’s name was called as the #1 overall pick by the New York Islanders at tonight’s NHL Draft in Los Angeles, there wasn’t a dry eye in the building. But this isn’t just another sports success story – it’s a testament to the human spirit that will leave you speechless.
The Photos That Made a Nation Weep
Inside his suit jacket, Schaefer carries photos of his mother Jennifer over his heart – photos of a woman who will never see her son achieve his NHL dreams. Jennifer lost her battle with breast cancer in February 2024, just months after Schaefer’s billet mother, Emily Matson, died by suicide.
“I think my mom’s going to go right into my head when I get picked because, you know, I wish she could be here,” Schaefer said during pre-draft interviews, his voice heavy with emotion. “So, yeah, there’s definitely going to be a lot of things that play a part in it, but it’s more happy tears than anything.”
Against All Odds: The Season That Almost Wasn’t
Most #1 draft picks dominate their final junior season. Schaefer barely played.
The Erie Otters defenseman managed just 17 games this season after missing the first nine games due to mononucleosis, then suffering a broken clavicle during the World Junior Championship in December. Any other prospect would have seen their draft stock plummet.
Not Schaefer.
In those 17 games, he still managed 7 goals and 22 points, showing the elite talent that made scouts certain he was their guy. “I literally have no doubt in my mind that Matthew Schaefer is a No. 1 defenseman,” one scout revealed.
Making History While Honoring Her Memory
Schaefer becomes just the fifth defenseman selected #1 overall since 2000, joining elite company including Owen Power (2021), Rasmus Dahlin (2018), Aaron Ekblad (2014), and Erik Johnson (2006).
But what makes this story transcendent isn’t the hockey achievement – it’s what drives him.
“She’s always with me in spirit,” Schaefer said about his mother. “I know she has a front-row seat every game. I get to play for someone even more. She was a strong woman.”
The Moment That Defined His Character
Perhaps no moment captured Schaefer’s resilience better than during the CHL USA Prospects Challenge in November. After losing both his stick and glove while killing a penalty, Schaefer somehow managed to block a shot with his bare hand, then later scored a spectacular goal.
It’s that same determination that carried him through the darkest moments of his young life.
Why This Draft Pick Changes Everything
The New York Islanders didn’t just get a hockey player tonight – they got a leader forged by adversity. At 6-foot-2 and 186 pounds, with elite skating and offensive instincts, Schaefer has all the tools to become a franchise cornerstone.
But as he prepares for his 18th birthday in September and his first NHL training camp, he’ll be carrying more than just hockey skills – he’ll be carrying the memory of a mother who believed in his dreams even when she couldn’t stay to see them fulfilled.
The Speech That Will Give You Chills
Just weeks before the draft, while others celebrated high school graduation, Schaefer spent his day at the Western New York Compassion Connection, sharing his story with children aged 7-17 who had recently lost loved ones.
Because sometimes, the greatest champions aren’t just measured by what they achieve – but by how they lift others while climbing their own mountains.
Tonight, when Matthew Schaefer puts on that Islanders jersey for the first time, he won’t just be representing a hockey team. He’ll be carrying the dreams of every young person who has faced impossible loss and chosen to keep fighting.
Jennifer Schaefer may not have a seat in the stands, but as her son said – she’s got the best seat in the house.
What do you think about Schaefer’s incredible journey? Share this story if it moved you.
