Islanders' Matthew Schaefer partnering with Northwell to help children of cancer patients

Several times throughout Matthew Schaefer’s record-setting rookie season, which will very likely culminate in him being awarded the Calder Trophy as the top newcomer, the Islanders defenseman would go to Long Island hospitals to visit with young cancer patients and their families. He wanted to support those in need but, also, it was a way to help his grieving process after losing his mother, Jennifer, to the disease in February 2024.

On Monday, the team announced Schaefer and Northwell Health have partnered, through a $150,000 gift from the Islanders Children’s Foundation, to open the Jennifer Schaefer Child Support Center in October.

“This is one of my favorite things I’m going to be doing,” Schaefer told Newsday after the announcement. “It means a lot to me, just from my mom to everything I’ve been through. I know she’d be very proud of me being able to help and give back and especially help families and people that are going through cancer. I love being involved with the community.

“I get to just see kids and what they’ve been through and obviously what I’ve been through. After I get through the visits and try to help the kids, my heart is warmed after it. It goes a long way. It goes way beyond hockey or anything else in life. I can really change my perspective on life a lot of times.”

The 18-year-old defenseman was announced last week as one of the three Calder finalists along with the Canadiens’ Ivan Demidov and the Ducks’ Beckett Sennecke, though Schaefer is considered the overwhelming favorite in balloting conducted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Schaefer led the Islanders in average ice time with 24:41 while notching 23 goals and 36 assists while playing in all 82 games. He matched Hall of Famer Brian Leetch’s NHL record for goals by a rookie defenseman, and his 59 points set a team record for a rookie defenseman.

“If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be, but I just wish we could go on playing in the playoffs,” said Schaefer after a late-season swoon kept the Islanders out of the postseason for a second straight year.

“Honestly, at the end of the day, anyone can win it," Schaefer added. "There’s two other great players that have done great things this year and really helped the NHL. But it would be an honor. It would be a dream come true.”

Schaefer will spend a good portion of the offseason back home in Hamilton, Ontario, and working out with a group of NHL players just outside Toronto before returning to Long Island. He said he has not resumed skating yet and is instead concentrating on weight training and getting stronger.

He also confirmed he will continue to live with former Islander Matt Martin, now a team executive, his wife, Sydney, and their four young children.

“I’ll definitely be there again next year,” Schaefer said. “Probably for the next couple of years. I love living with them. I love being a part of the family.”

Schaefer said he always had it in the “back of his mind” to work to help cancer patients and their families, but Northwell Health reached out to discuss a partnership almost as soon as Schaefer started making hospital visits shortly into his rookie season.

“We’ve been in talks for a while,” Schaefer said. “The first day I stepped foot in the hospitals with Northwell, I knew this was something that I really wanted to do. My agency knew this was very close to my heart. It came pretty quick. Obviously, cancer was a big thing for me and being with the kids and just trying to help them in any way possible.”

“By honoring Jennifer Schaefer’s memory in this way, we are ensuring that no child has to walk through these difficult moments alone, providing them with a place of comfort, play and support right when they need it most,” Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky said in a statement.

The child life room, located at the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Center in New Hyde Park, will provide a dedicated space for children while their parent undergoes cancer treatment. The room will feature hockey-themed elements, including Islanders memorabilia and entertainment along with inspiring messages from Schaefer to the families using the room. The room will be staffed by a counselor and equipped with a private space where grief counseling will be available.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.