Erie defenseman moved by workforce’s tribute to late mother, handles massive moments with class
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Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures
LOS ANGELES — Matthew Schaefer smiled as he pulled on his jersey after the New York Islanders chosen him with the No. 1 decide of the 2025 Higher Deck NHL Draft at L.A. Reside’s Peacock Theater on Friday.
Then he appeared down.
On the higher left chest, the Islanders had stitched a lavender ribbon in honor of his mom, Jennifer, who died of breast most cancers in February 2024. Contained in the collar, that they had put the initials “J.S.”
Schaefer pulled on his hat, kissed the ribbon and pointed to the sky. Standing on stage subsequent to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman throughout one of many largest moments of his life, the 17-year-old choked up and wiped his eyes.
“I couldn’t management the tears,” Schaefer stated. “Clearly, I’m serious about my mother a little bit additional at the moment. I do know she’d be very proud. I’d love for her to be right here in individual, however clearly most cancers [stinks], so she’s with me in spirit. I do know she’s not struggling, and she or he’s comfortable, smiling down and at all times with me. …
“My mother’s a giant a part of my life, and this jersey I’m going to hold up for positive. That ribbon has a little bit additional that means to it.”
Schaefer felt an intense mixture of feelings as he went by way of the draft day expertise, and he displayed the character that attracted the Islanders to him as an individual, not simply as a participant.
The defenseman from Erie of the Ontario Hockey League stitched a photograph of his mom on the liner inside his swimsuit coat so she could possibly be near his coronary heart. After Bettman referred to as his identify, he hugged his father, Todd, and brother, Johnny, all of them in tears.
“I don’t often cry as a lot as my dad and brother,” Schaefer stated. “My dad’s like, ‘Oh, you received’t cry.’ After which I’m type of biting my tongue, and my identify will get referred to as, after which they begin flowing out. Clearly, comfortable tears. I want my mother could possibly be right here. I believe that’s the largest factor.”
His father referred to as it “overwhelming.” His brother referred to as it “wonderful.”
“You’re pleased with him, you’re comfortable for him, and then you definitely’re serious about who’s not right here,” his father stated. “You’re crying. You’re smiling. You’re comfortable.”
The ribbon made it much more particular.
“It simply took me to a unique degree of feelings,” his father stated. “It was so vital for him. He needed his mother right here a lot. He has his perception system. He believes she’s proper beside him. However the respect that the Islanders have proven by doing that, go to that subsequent degree, I imply, when you’ve a company like that, you need to work onerous. You need to do no matter it’s for them. It’s only a respect factor.
“He simply appreciated it a lot, and he hasn’t cried like that in a very long time. It’s been a very long time. I believe when he noticed that on the jersey, it simply introduced all the pieces out, and that’s not a nasty factor.”
Bettman escorted Schaefer to an enormous display screen within the “NHL Draft Home,” the place he may work together with the entrance workplace on Lengthy Island. The theater fell silent because the microphone caught Schaefer sniffling, attempting to compose himself.
“Thanks, guys,” Schaefer stated. “Sorry. OK. We’re good.”
Islanders common supervisor Mathieu Darche stated he knew his mom was pleased with him.
“Thanks, guys,” Schaefer stated. “I admire you taking an opportunity on me. I promise I received’t disappoint. However particularly simply need to say to my mother and all my household and associates, thanks for all the pieces. However particularly you guys, thanks a lot. I admire it.”
Schaefer choked up once more speaking about his mom and the way a lot he missed her.
“Pay attention, there’s plenty of good gamers right here tonight,” Darche stated. “However Matthew the hockey participant is excellent, the human being is as excellent because the hockey participant, so we’re so excited to have him right here.”
After that, Schaefer dried his eyes, began smiling once more and went by way of “the gauntlet,” greater than two hours of interviews and photograph shoots. As he raced round, he acquired 4 telephone calls from the Islanders — first Darche, who advised him that he had made him cry, after which future teammates Anders Lee, Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat.
Actor Kevin Connolly did an interview with Schaefer that the Islanders beamed again reside to their draft social gathering at UBS Area. Connolly is thought for his function as Eric Murphy within the HBO sequence “Entourage.” Properly, Schaefer had an entourage of his personal, together with a digital camera crew following his each transfer.
“Need a image?” Schaefer requested Connolly.
“Yeah,” Connolly stated, hopping alongside him. “In fact.”
Maybe this was essentially the most spectacular half: Amid all the pieces, Schaefer paid consideration to different folks, whether or not they have been well-known or not.
Though his handlers tried to maintain him on a decent schedule, Schaefer repeatedly stopped to take footage with followers — Islanders followers, after all, but additionally followers of different NHL groups. Not solely did he signal autographs, however he took time to personalize them.
Carson Grizovic, a 20-year-old sport administration pupil from Baldwin Wallace College in Ohio, served as Schaefer’s “draft information.” He held a clipboard with a guidelines of Schaefer’s commitments. As they walked alongside, Schaefer requested Grizovic about himself.
“He’s been nice,” Grizovic stated. “I received to do that final yr, and he’s undoubtedly my favourite draft decide I’ve had. The best way he’s asking questions again and fascinating with all the pieces, he’s actually simply taking within the second, and you may inform he’s excited to be an Islander.”
What a second it was.
“You see how onerous he works, how a lot he’s endured and gone by way of at such a younger age,” Schaefer’s brother stated. “I’ve been round him in any respect elements of his life, I suppose you can say, from when he was a wee little child to now towering over me. It’s simply good seeing a very good individual do good issues and get that type of love and success.
“Every time it’s a very good individual, you get extra folks rooting for you, and it makes the story a little bit bit higher.”
