Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer Has Emotional Reaction to Being Drafted First Overall

The New York Islanders made Matthew Schaefer the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday night. But what happened next turned the Peacock Theater into a tissue factory.

The 17-year-old defenseman lost it when he pulled on his Islanders jersey and spotted a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon on the chest. He kissed it and pointed to the sky, tears streaming down his face.

You could hear a pin drop in Los Angeles.

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Schaefer’s mom, Jennifer, died from breast cancer in February 2024. The kid’s been through absolute hell. His billet mother, Emily Matson, also died by suicide just three months before that. Then, Erie Otters owner Jim Waters had a heart attack during the World Juniors in December.

“I couldn’t control the tears… thinking about my mom a little extra today,” Schaefer said. “I know she’d be very proud. I’d love her to be here in person. But obviously cancer sucks, so she’s with me in spirit.”

The Islanders knew exactly what they were doing with that ribbon. This was a pure class move by new GM Mathieu Darche. The organization also engraved his mother’s initials, J.S., into the jersey.

What’s really interesting about the pick is that Schaefer barely played last season. He broke his collarbone at the World Juniors, and it cut his OHL season short. Yet, he’s so talented that he still went first overall.

The Hamilton native posted impressive stats when healthy, racking up 22 points in just 17 games with a plus-21 rating. He’s the fifth defenseman to go first since 2000 and the first since Owen Power in 2021.

“Matthew the hockey player is outstanding,” Darche said. “The human being is as outstanding as the hockey player. We’re so excited to have him here.”

Schaefer wore a custom suit jacket with photos of his mother sewn into the inner lining. Right next to his heart. The waterworks started before Gary Bettman even finished announcing the pick.

This wasn’t your typical NHL Draft night, by the way, as teams weren’t even in the building. The NHL’s first decentralized draft had GMs watching from their home markets. But none of that mattered to Schaefer.

“I want to play in the NHL next season,” he said, wiping his eyes. “I think it’s really going to translate if I have a good summer.”

The youngster will train with former Norris Trophy winner Mark Giordano this summer. And get this: he’ll be working out with Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech, another Erie alumnus.

The Islanders jumped nine spots after winning the draft lottery in May. This was their first number-one pick since 2009. The Isles got themselves a special kid who’s already been through more than most NHLers face in their entire careers.

“Thank you all for believing in me,” Schaefer told Islanders brass. “I promise I won’t let you down, and I especially want to express my gratitude to my mom and all my family and friends for their support.”

Social media went crazy Friday night. Fans from every fanbase were pulling for the kid. Even Islanders haters had to admit the jersey tribute was pure class.

Central Scouting’s David Gregory summed up Schaefer’s on-ice skill: “He sizes up opponents as good as anyone I’ve seen. He can take over a game from the back end.”

The Islanders just drafted a defenseman who plays with his heart on his sleeve. Literally.