- Matthew Schaefer brought a young fan battling cancer to his pregame interview on Sportsnet
- Lila sat next to him on the Islanders bench before Saturday’s game in Toronto
- Read below for what Schaefer said and why this cause hits home for him
Matthew Schaefer brought a special guest to his pregame interview Saturday night.
The Islanders defenseman sat down with the Saturday Night Hockey panel on Sportsnet before New York faced the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Next to him on the bench was Lila, a young fan who is battling cancer.
Schaefer introduced her to the crew and talked about why he wanted her there. Watch the moment:
Schaefer was asked about Lila and kept it simple.
“She’s such a sweetheart… I’m a big hugger, so she let me give her hugs, so that’s a deal breaker for me,” Schaefer said.
The two met during a commercial shoot for Hyundai. Schaefer told the panel what he thinks of her fight.
“She’s awesome. She’s battling something that my mom obviously battled and it’s not fair for her being so young, but she’s tough, she’s strong and she’s got this,” he said.
After the game, Schaefer told reporters how the visit came together, per NHL.com’s Anna Kulesa. He had invited Lila to a Toronto game, and the Islanders helped make it happen by putting her beside him for the interview.
“Just to have her there and at the game was awesome,” Schaefer said.
This cause is personal for the 19-year-old. His mother, Jennifer, died in February 2024 after a battle with breast cancer. Schaefer paid tribute to her on her birthday last November, and the NHL shared it:
A family room called the Jennifer Schaefer Child Support Center is set to open soon at Cohen Children’s Medical Center on Long Island. Schaefer announced the partnership in May.
He has been all over the place this month, including a spot on The Price Is Right with a few other NHL players. This one was a lot quieter, and a lot more meaningful.
