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Matthew Schaefer's Unbelievable Story Of Adversity And Perseverance
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- Published on Mar 6, 2026
- SPORTSNET PRESENTS:
"Matthew Schaefer: If You Can See Him Now"
Projected first overall NHL draft pick Matthew Schaefer has had anything but an easy route the League. This is the story of a young superstar battling unbelievable adversity at an early age, told in his own words and by those closest to him.
Presented by Upper Deck
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Matthew Schaefer's Unbelievable Story Of Adversity And Perseverance
#NHL #Hockey #Draft 
Sports
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Forget hockey player. This kid is truly unbelievable as a person. He's a man already. What a strong character. Unbelievable young man and great, great family. I'll be following him for sure.
Well said
Looks like he needs to "bulk-up" some for the NHL. Eat some donuts and carbs :) Hope the kid doesn't end up injury prone and fans don't expect too much from him right out of the gate. In the past, Isles weren't afraid to send a high draft pick to the AHL first. Will see if that happens here.
He’s gonna inspire so many young hockey fans
Facts
I have stage 4 cancer. This story hits hard in my feels. What an inspiring young man and a beautiful family ❤️
❤
Wish you luck man
@okgoober-g2gThank you ❤🙏
❤❤
Trust in The Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved .
I love this kid. I wish more stars would have the same mindset
He seems like a very mature, classy person. He is going to be a star in this league, probably a future captain and class act.
His adversity will definitely help him become a star
An emotional and powerful film . Love and respect forever Matthew and families !
Thanks for watching!
Man who’s cutting onions
This kid deserves a hell of a career wish u the best Schaefs
We lost my wife to breast cancer 2 days before my little boys 10th birthday in October 2023, I'm not sure that i can overstate the incredible inspiration & comfort that he has taken from hearing stories of other boys dealing with & learning to live with the loss of their mum.
He loves sport (Hurling & Rugby) & took great inspiration from Andrew Porter (Irish rugby player) & I'll show him this video today & I know an Isles #48 jersey will be on the birthday list, hearing the story will make him cry but will then help him build that next layer of strength he needs & having another role model like Matthew will inspire him further.
Thank you so much Sports Net & the Schaefer family for telling this story, i dont know how many little boys you will help & inspire but your story will give a boost to a 11 year old Hurler in Ireland who only know hockey from the Mighty Ducks!
I cant wait to see the career Matthew has for himself & for his mum, i think its going to be amazing
His parents raised an amazing young man, that’s what it’s all about. Hockey is just a bonus. Beautiful family. Going to be easy to root for this kid.
This kid is so special. Teared up several times watching this. The Islanders have a great one here.
This kid is going to make me an Islander fan. All jokes aside, a truly unbelievable human, and should be an inspiration to everyone that hears his story. Looking forward to following his career.
I’m a big time Islanders fan and also a new season ticket holder. I’m so excited for the future!! My family had to endure tremendous loss from covid. My mom’s parents passed away one day apart and my mom was also very sick at the same time because she was trying to take care of them at their house and she was hospitalized for more than two weeks after they passed. I had to go through this at the age of 18. I don’t have any grandparents still living.
Not only an amazing hockey player but an amazing advocate who helps others.
Hey Matt......sending 🫶....stay strong....take care of dad....Just be you🤘🤘✌️✌️your gonna be great
As a hockey player I look up to him he is definitely a future star god bless him
Utmost respect for this young man. I wish nothing but the best for him and his family.
The opening with pink skies gave me goosebumps, hope this kid is a superstar, rooting for him big big time as a pens fan
I can't put into words how much I am rooting for Matthew. I am so happy for his future in the NHL. His career is something I can't wait to witness. What a great family.
I definitely shed some tears to this, rooting for him all the way
I lost my mom to cancer when she was also 56. The difference is that I was nearly 36, not 16. This young man is truly an honour to his family and to the mother he truly loves and respects with everything he has. Remarkable young man.
Great story! So grateful to have this kid on our side!
He’s gained a fan from me for life. Wish him nothing but the best!
hopefully you can give a large donation to cancer research? do u have a extra $20k?
it was so hard to not cry during this
This kid as a human is a legend already!
The Schaefer's are just such a great hockey family. It's so cool to see Johnny's little brother turn into the player and person he is today. Anyone who was able to meet Jennifer knew how good of a person she was and how much she loved Matthew. Looking forward to watching the draft and we know Jennifer will be with the family.
A great young man.
What a fantastic kid
Your Mom is proud of you 💜 Canada is proud of you 🇨🇦
Imagine the feels of that Hug with his brother and dad when he wins the cup in a couple of years.. truly inspirationnal!
From your keyboard to gods ears
Hate to break it to you but the Islanders aren't winning a cup in the next couple years.
Schaefer Aitcheson Eiserman Nelson etc !
We are so lucky to have him on our Erie Otters team❤
Stud
You’re so lucky to have 2 great parents. Stay the course my friend, you have a foundation many don’t have.. my mom always told me “Be happy with what you have, not what you don’t have”. Your mom and dad are with you each day no matter what life may bring. Godspeed Matthew.
I'm a person that gets easily touched and watching this beutiful story about a special strong young man and a fantastic human being and his outlook on life and the things he has been through made me tear 😢 up but in positive way:). It takes more than pure technical skill to become a good athlete you need to be a genuine good humanbeing too and this kid has both in spades:).
Going to be a stud for my Islanders
Kudos Sportsnet, this was a fantastic piece. I can't imagine anyone made it through that without tearing up. Truly an inspirational story. I can't wait to see Matthew in the NHL!
What a stud ❤
Man this mad me cry im only 19 i cant even imagine going back being 17 and not having a mom anymore man i hope he shows out.
Just got to admit it when you see not only a generational but a generational young man.👏👏👏👏👏
Wow, onions. What an incredible story. Rooting for this guy.
Welp I’m an 18 year old and this story has inspired me to become like Mathew. What a great person
What a beautiful human being Matthew is, much love to him and his family as well as his billet family ❤
I can’t even begin to imagine how proud your mom is of you. Love is the only reality. ❤ You are always with each other
What a kid. Absolutely amazing story.
This guy will be fun to watch!
💯
Definitely raised by a queen & king. That young man had my heart in an instant. Wishing him nothing more than the best in his NHL career with the NY Islanders & in his life ❤️
Ive watched this more than once. Well done.. well done!
This guy is going to be a pleasure to watch. He might even make the Islanders not boring for the first time in a long time
What an absolute GEM of a kid, could be my new fav kid in the NHL where ever he goes - Best of luck Matthew you deserve it buddy
What a great kid. The 32 Questions podcast brought me here. I can't wait to watch him play in person!
What an incredible man and family. I am so glad to hear Matthew's story and to see the strength he has to be his best self for his mom. She is so proud of him.
This young man deserves all the accolades coming his way…
Not the pink skies playing oh im sobbing 😭😭😭😭
as someone who has lost a family member, seeing the way this kid lives everyday life through those experiences and cherishes the memories of his mother to carry himself on is truly inspiring. definitely something to look at
As someone who’s 29 and lost my mother at 15, I know the pain and toll this takes. Major credit to your parents on how you were raised and carry yourself. Can’t wait to see you succeed in the show!
Amazing story, being from Hamilton definitely rooting for Matthew to succeed in his career
As a Rangers fan, I hope he has a hell of a career with the Islanders. What an inspirational young man ❤️
As an Islanders fan and season ticket holder, I’m so excited for the future!! If I ever have the chance to meet him, I would tell him my family’s Covid story. My mom’s parents died one day apart from covid in March 2020 and my mom was very sick with it at the same time because she was trying to take care of them at their house. She couldn’t attend their burials. In Judaism, you’re supposed to bury the deceased as quickly as possible because it’s seen as a sign of respect. We don’t waste time. Their burials also happened on consecutive days. After we got back from the cemetery after my grandfather was buried, we got the call from the hospital saying my grandmother had died as well. And she was buried the next day. It was very traumatic for us. My mom was hospitalized for more than two weeks after they passed away. She still suffers from the effects of long covid. Hopefully I’ll be able to meet him at the Islanders fan fest BBQ which is only open to season ticket holders. The date has not been announced yet.
God bless this kid and his family, hope a great NHL Career coming from a caps fan 🙏🏻❤️
I’m cheering for him as much as he cheers for others
I can kinda relate to cause halfway through my freshman year of highschool hockey i fractured my collarbone and my mom has been through health problems but hockey and sports were my getaway from that and im 15 going in my sophomore year
When you think you’ve problems in your life, it falls into insignificance when you hear this story. This young man is a true inspiration to all, when life gives you challenges, there’s always a way ahead. Your mum would be so so proud of you , your brother and father……………. Keep striving forward, it’s what your mum would’ve wanted ❤️👏🏽
What a wonderful young man his soul is beautiful!
Thanks for sharing this story, such a huge lost to both families. Mathew is a credit to his families, his team and his country!
This kid is special
He is a testament to his mom.
I’m so glad I took the time to watch this tears in my eyes joy my heart I needed this today. Thank you Matthew.
I have a new favourite player. Loved this doc
This is a strong willed and driven young man! Much respect and love!! Losing a parent as a kid is devastating to say the least, love the character and person!
An absolute amazing young man!
Awesome human being! Congrats Matthew! Family and friends are the most important in life, playing hockey or sports in general is bonus! Here's to a long career! 🍻 Also, to your family, love conquers all! Beautiful story! ❤
Wow. Never heard of this kid until now. I don’t follow hockey. He’s been through enough for a lifetime. Such an inspiration! I’m a fan now though. Go Matthew!!🎉
Mathew Schaefer is my new faverit NHL player and I feel for you man,I hope yare stil playing when Imake it to the NHL.
I can see my fav hockey player in the making. This man is so special. He’s going to dominate and I’m rooting for him. I’m bawling my eyes out watching this. Unfortunately I will have to become an islanders fan for a couple years. So excited to see his career💜
How can you wish anything but the absolute best for that kid (and everyone else in the story) - what a beauty
I'm not crying, you're crying
Welcome to Long Island! Congratulations to a great person!
Your mom is extremely proud of you. I am proud of. Your strength is unrivaled! I pray that you have a long and prosperous NHL career! May God bless you young man 🙏🏼📿✝️🕊
I feel your pain buddy I lost my mom last year march 14 and my mom rang that bell to and her cancer came back a few months after it is the most devastating thing to deal with sorry for your loss buddy keep your head up that’s why she would want
What an amazing kid..
I wish this guy all of the best life has to offer what a great person and family good luck Matthew i hope u are a star u deserve it
I have so much respect for Matthew. He seems to be a great person and I hope he will make his way in the NHL. His mum is watching from above like my wife (to me and the two kids) who passed away 12 years ago at the age of 41 due to leukaemia.
My wife had stage 4 and with two young teenage boys this is definitely hitting home. This kids gonna be a legend!
Best of luck.
Impress with this Young men.what a beautiful famille!
Great kid. I'll be rooting for him.
I love everything about this kid what a great time to be an Islanders fan LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!!!
hard to not root for you matt, you've made a fan for life
GOD BLESS MATTHEW AND HIS FAMILY AND HIS CAREER
So sad hope he's amazing in the nhl
Losing mom at a young age is so sad.
Unbelievable human. Welcome to the New York Islanders! Making your mom and family so proud! Can’t wait to see you play
This is a fantastic story. First to the Schaefer family my condolences on the loss of your wife and mother. Mrs Schaefer was a true matriarch of the family and many times loss of such a strong presence makes already strong people even stronger! I am not saying it's always easy, but going through the hard is what makes it special and stronger.
Young Matthew has two amazing strong male role models in a tough loving big brother and a father who with his angel raised these boys right. I know the goal is to get to the NHL level and eventually win that cup. No matter where Matthew's hockey journey takes him he is already winning. He is truly a role model and will be a leader no matter where his journey takes him. The building of that character usually always starts with a strong family foundation. Matthew, you are certainly blessed and obtaining your set goals is all up to you at this point. Great job big brother, dad, and his mother. I am from New York so getting to watch his career is going to be lots of fun. Best of luck young man.
A phenomenal role model for the next generation of young hockey players.
What a tremendous young man
what a great family.
Such an incredible person and family
The NYI putting a pink ribbon on the jersey was an incredibly class act. Well Done！
Incredibly powerful story. And truly a remarkable human being. I cant wait to see where his resilience takes him.
I love his story❤❤❤😊
This young man has had to grow up very fast. Very impressive. I think he’ll have a wonderful NHL career.
I’m so happy he gets to hear what all these people who I’m sure he respects a lot think about him. Must mean so much to him and it’s really special. Happy for him and proud of him without ever having met him. What a legend.
Absolutely extraordinary kid and family. I'm a fan for life.
I hope this young man never changes, he's genuine, open, and caring and considering what's he's gone through at such a young age, absolutely no bitterness. His personality is infectious and it showed on that visit to that center for the kids that lost a loved one, I wish him nothing but the best.