1st Overall NHL Draft Pick Matthew Schaefer Gave An Unbelievably Emotional Interview About His Late Mother After Being Selected By The Islanders
It's been known for quite a while now that Matthew Schaefer would hear his name called first at the NHL Draft tonight. He's an explosive defenseman out of Ontario who has a ton of offensive capabilities. Every team is looking for a Cale Makar, and the Islanders have found theirs in Matthew Schaefer.
With it being known for so long now that he'd be the first overall pick, it's given everyone a decent amount of time to learn his story. Unfortunately he lost his mother to breast cancer in 2024. It's a devastating loss for anybody to deal with, but especially a 16/17-year-old kid living away from home while playing in the OHL trying to chase his dreams of one day becoming an NHL player. But clearly both Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer did an incredible job of raising a strong and resilient kid. It's a heartbreaking loss, but he continued chasing his dream, and now here he is as a 1st overall pick in the NHL Draft.
It's impossible to not root for Matthew Schaefer after listening to this interview. Such a great kid with such an emotional story. The way he carries himself is so evident in just a 40-second clip. Special kid with the type of character you'd want to build your franchise around.
And what a great touch by the New York Islanders to make sure they stitched that ribbon onto the jersey for him. That's first class by an organization that doesn't always get the credit for it. And speaking of class, just get a load of this kid.
Unreal. There's not a doubt in my mind that he'll be wearing the "C" on Long Island at some point in his career.