Just over a year after losing his mother, Jennifer, to breast cancer, 17-year-old Matthew Schaefer reached the pinnacle of his young hockey career, selected first overall by the New York Islanders in the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday in Los Angeles.
The emotional moment unfolded at the Peacock Theater as Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL’s Erie Otters, was greeted on stage by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. The Islanders presented Schaefer with a team jersey featuring a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon stitched onto the chest and his mother’s initials embroidered into the collar. Schaefer kissed the ribbon before breaking into tears as his father and brother cheered from the audience.
“This is a high-class organization,” Schaefer told reporters. “To do that for me, it means a lot—it goes a long way. A lot of people can say it’s just a ribbon, but for me, it’s so much more. My mom was a big part of my life, and this jersey will be hung up for sure.”
Schaefer’s past year was marked by grief beyond his mother’s death. He also lost the mother of his billet family and Erie Otters owner Jim Waters.
Asked what he missed most about his mother, Schaefer grew emotional.
“She was always so happy,” he shared on ESPN’s broadcast. “Cancer sucks. It’s not fun. She didn’t always feel the best, but she was the happiest in the family. She always made us laugh and would do anything for us.”
A native of Stoney Creek, Ontario, Schaefer played 17 games last season with Erie, tallying seven goals and 22 points before suffering a broken collarbone at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. He also captained Team Canada to gold at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and won gold again at the 2024 IIHF Under-18 World Championship.
Before the draft, Schaefer wore a suit lined with a photo of his mother and her signature over his heart.
“That was the biggest thing for me,” he said. “I always know she’s with me in spirit.”
Islanders fans erupted in applause during a draft watch party at UBS Arena when Schaefer vowed the team would “beat the Rangers every time we play them.”
He is the franchise’s fifth No. 1 overall pick and the first since John Tavares in 2009. Schaefer also becomes just the fifth defenseman in 25 years to be selected first overall, following Owen Power’s selection by Buffalo in 2021.
The Islanders made two additional first-round picks after a trade with Montreal, selecting forward Victor Eklund and defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson.
The San Jose Sharks picked center Michael Misa at No. 2 overall, while Chicago chose Swedish forward Anton Frondell at No. 3. The Anaheim Ducks took center Roger McQueen at No. 10, and Columbus selected defenseman Jackson Smith with the 14th pick, announced by Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau.
The 2025 NHL Draft continues Saturday.
