US EditionWhat Happened to Matthew Schaefer's Mom? How Top NHL Prospect Overcame Multiple Personal Tragedies
- Matthew Schaefer was drafted first overall by the New York Islanders on June 27, 2025, at the NHL Draft in Los Angeles.
- He went through several personal losses within a short period: his billet mother, Emily Matson, died by suicide in December 2023, and a few months later, in February 2024, his birth mother, Jennifer, passed away after battling breast cancer.
- Schaefer reflected on his mother's support, recalling how she played goalie for him and his brother, and said her spirit would accompany him into the NHL.
- Schaefer expressed that his mother’s presence is felt at every game and emphasized that he values personal loss more deeply than injuries, demonstrating determination despite being limited to 17 games last season due to illness and a broken collarbone.
- His selection suggests the Islanders see him as a cornerstone defenseman who could soon become a key player, with his personal losses deeply shaping his motivation.
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Hamilton-born Matthew Schaefer selected first overall at the 2025 NHL draft
Matthew Schaefer of Hamilton, Ont. is a member of the New York Islanders. The club selected the 17-year-old defenceman from the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters with the first pick at the 2025 NHL draft on Friday.
·Toronto, Canada
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Top NHL draft prospect Schaefer honors late-mother in not letting ...
·Cherokee County, United States
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