He lost his mom, his mentor, and his billet mom - now he’s the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL draft

Seventeen-year-old Canadian defenseman Matthew Schaefer is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. But behind the spotlight and scouts’ praise lies a deeply personal and painful journey that has tested the teenager beyond the rink.

In the span of just 12 months, Schaefer lost three people who were instrumental in shaping his life and career—his mother, his billet mom, and his junior team’s owner. For the rising star, draft night won’t just be a career milestone—it will be a tribute to those who helped him get there.

“She’s got a front-row seat every game”: Losing his mom to cancer

In February 2024, Schaefer’s mother, Jennifer, passed away after a two-year battle with breast cancer. She was not only his biggest cheerleader but an active part of his hockey life—once donning goalie pads in the basement so her sons could practice shooting.


“Just seeing what my mom went through, always smiling even with cancer trying to bring her down—she never let it,” Schaefer said. “I look up to her so much.”

Even now, he says, he feels her presence on the ice: “I know she has a front-row seat every game.”

Tragedy strikes again—losing his billet mom and team owner

Just three months before his mother’s passing, Schaefer’s billet mother, Emily Matson, died after being struck by a train in Erie, Pennsylvania. The local journalist had welcomed Schaefer into her home and helped him adjust to life away from his family. Her death, ruled a suicide, was another devastating blow.

Then, in December 2024, Schaefer lost Erie Otters owner Jim Waters to a heart attack. Waters, who had guided the team since 2015, was a key mentor and supporter. “Jim and his wife, Sheila, were huge parts of my life,” Schaefer shared.

A top draft pick shaped by loss—and strength

As if the emotional toll weren’t enough, Schaefer also suffered a collarbone injury that kept him out for the final stretch of his season. But in his words, “I’ve been through a lot in my life and I’d rather have an injury than lose someone I love. There are a lot worse things than injuries.”

Now, as he awaits the 2025 NHL Draft, Matthew Schaefer is not only chasing a dream—he’s honoring the people who believed in him most. His resilience and heart have made him one of hockey’s most compelling young figures, and his story is a reminder that greatness is often forged in the fire of loss.