It’s only been a few days since Connor McDavid completed a decade since the day he became the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL draft. Now, a decade later, the Erie Otters are once again at the top of the pack as the New York Islanders picked another star defenseman, Matthew Schaefer, for the Otters roster to open the 2025 NHL Draft. While it was the most significant moment in the 17-year-old’s hockey journey so far, it was also a bittersweet one.

The hockey defenseman’s emotions overwhelmed him as he put on that New York Islanders sweater in the first decentralized NHL Draft. Schafer wept on the stage in a futile attempt to keep it together as NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman stood beside him. In the stands, his father, Todd Schaefer, couldn’t keep it together either. Schaefer was living the biggest moment of his hockey career without his mother.

In fact, Schaefer knew this would happen. “I think my mom’s going to go right into my head when I get picked because, you know, I wish she could be here,” Matthew Schaefer told NHL.com on June 26. That’s because Schaefer lost his mother to breast cancer just over a year ago, in February 2024. “I can not believe how fast this happened,” the 17-year-old wrote in a lengthy tribute to his late mother last year.

However, the hockey phenom and his family’s tears on Draft Day were tears of joy. Yes, the 17-year-old missed his “best friend” and the “first true love” of his life while standing on that stage, but he also knew that Jennifer Schaefer was proud of her son, as she watched from the best seat in the house. “She’d be so proud,” the NHL wrote, while sharing how Schaefer kept his mother close for the event.

“I got her picture, and I got her signature,” said Matthew Schaefer as he showed the photograph he stuck to the inside of his suit. “That was the biggest thing to put on my heart, and you know? I know she’s always with me in spirit. I wish she could be here in person, but I know she’s smiling down,” added the 6’2 defenseman. And guess what? The Islanders ensured that it didn’t change.

Matthew Schaefer is grateful to the Islanders

The now-former Erie Otters defenseman had to take off the suit with Jennifer Schaefer’s picture to put on the No. 25 New York Islanders sweater. However, in a truly thoughtful move, the NHL ensured that even the sweater paid homage to the hockey phenom’s late mother. MSG Network’s play-by-play announcer Alan Fuehring wrote about the “amazing touch.”

“The #Isles not only put a cancer ribbon on Schaefer’s jersey, but also embroidered the inside of his collar with his mother’s initials ‘JS’,” the announcer posted on X. And Matthew Schaefer was grateful not only because of the Islanders’ heartfelt gesture but for the opportunity. “It’s such an honor, and especially the first overall pick,” said the new Islanders member.

“I heard they have a great room. They have very skilled players. So I can’t wait to get there this week and train. I’m looking forward to it. A little too excited,” added the defenseman, turning 18 this September. On the flip side, the New York Islanders were equally excited to have him. “The human being is as outstanding as the hockey player. We’re so excited to have him here,” said GM Mathieu Darche.

And it’s easy to see why Matthew Schaefer had so much hype behind him. Despite playing just 17 games with the Erie Otters, the two-way defenseman scored 7 goals, notched 15 assists, totaling 22 points and a plus-21 rating. You could say the sky is the limit if the Canadian can preserve this form while transitioning to the NHL.