Matthew Schaefer

Matthew Schaefer
Born (2007-09-05) September 5, 2007 (age 17)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position Defenceman
Shoots Left
OHL team Erie Otters
NHL draft Eligible 2025

Matthew Schaefer (born September 5, 2007) is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He is considered a top prospect eligible for the 2025 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

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Playing at the under-16 level for the Halton Hurricanes of the South-Central Triple A Hockey League in 2022–23, Schaefer recorded 12 goals and 32 points in 25 games, earning player of the year honours.[1] Following the season, he was selected first overall in the 2023 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft by the Erie Otters.[2] He became the third first overall pick in Otters history, after Ryan O'Reilly and Connor McDavid.[3] In May 2023, he signed a contract with the Otters, committing to play for the team beginning that fall.[4]

Early in his rookie OHL season, the 2023–24 season, Schaefer scored his first goal on October 12, 2023, a power play goal against the Niagara IceDogs.[5] As the backbone of an Otters defense group that The Hockey News described as "bleak," Schaefer was leaned upon heavily but managed the transition from minor hockey to the OHL smoothly.[6] He would finish the year with three goals and 17 points in 56 games, earning first team all-rookie honors.[7] His impressive rookie season came in the face of significant personal struggles, as both his mother and his billet mother died during the season.[2]

Schaefer began the 2024–25 season sick with mononucleosis, missing nine games before getting clearance to play.[8]

International play

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Medal record
Representing  Canada
Men's ice hockey
World U18 Championship
Gold medal – first place 2024 Finland
Hlinka Gretzky Cup
Gold medal – first place 2024 Canada

Representing Ontario at the 2023 Canada Winter Games, Schaefer, as the team's captain, scored an game-winning goal in overtime of the finals to secure a 3–2 victory over Saskatchewan and a gold medal.[2] Later that year, he would win gold with the Canadian under-17 team at the 2023 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, again as captain.[9][10]

At the 2024 World U18 Championship, Schaefer and Team Canada went undefeated to a gold medal finish.[11] Although overshadowed by fellow underage player Gavin McKenna and his 20 points at the event, Schaefer was also a standout, averaging just under 18 minutes a night including power play and penalty kill deployment and scoring one goal and five points in seven games.[2]

Schaefer was the Canadian captain at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where his standout play was a driving force behind the Canadians claiming the gold medal.[12] He opened the tournament with two goals in a 10–0 blowout victory against Switzerland,[5] adding four assists over the rest of the event to finish with six points.[13]

Personal life

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Matthew Schaefer is the younger son of Todd and Jennifer Schaefer. His older brother Johnny, like him, played in the Ontario Hockey League. His mother died of breast cancer in February 2024, less than three months after his billet mother Emily Matson was struck and killed by a train in an apparent suicide.[2]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2023–24 Erie Otters OHL 56 3 14 17 16 6 0 3 3 2
OHL totals 56 3 14 17 16 6 0 3 3 2

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2023 Canada White U17 1st place, gold medalist(s) 8 1 3 4 6
2024 Canada U18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 1 4 5 2
2024 Canada HG18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 2 4 6 0
Junior totals 20 4 11 15 8

Awards and honours

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Award Year Ref
OHL
First All-Rookie Team 2024 [14]

References

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  1. ^ Henry, Jordan (April 3, 2023). "2023 U16 AAA Player of the Year Awards". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Campbell, Ken (May 18, 2024). "Light feet, heavy heart: The tragic story of a rising hockey star and two unfathomable losses". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  3. ^ Copper, Mike (April 20, 2023). "Matthew Schaefer joins O'Reilly, McDavid as Erie Otters' No. 1 overall picks in OHL draft". Erie Times-News. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  4. ^ Scheig, Mark (May 24, 2023). "Erie Otters: Get to Know Matthew Schaefer & Wesley Royston". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Stockl, Joely (January 16, 2024). "A Look Back at the Top 3 from the 2023 OHL Priority Selection". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  6. ^ Stockl, Joely (February 10, 2024). "An Updated Look at the 2023 OHL Draft Class & the 2007 Age Group; Picks #1-5". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  7. ^ Vickers, Aaron (August 4, 2024). "Schaefer ready to 'put the work boots on' ahead of 2025 NHL Draft". National Hockey League. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  8. ^ Campbell, Ken (October 23, 2024). "Matthew Schaefer Begins His Quest For No. 1 Overall In The 2025 NHL Draft". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  9. ^ Ellis, Steven (August 7, 2024). "Meet Matthew Schaefer, the top (early) defenseman for the 2025 NHL Draft". Daily Faceoff. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  10. ^ Brown, Jared (August 5, 2024). "Otters Defenseman Matthew Schaefer Named Team Canada Captain for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  11. ^ "#TheMoment a rising hockey star turned tragedy into triumph". CBC News. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  12. ^ Ferrari, Tony (August 11, 2024). "Hlinka Gretzky Cup: Schaefer and Ivankovic Lead Tournament Standouts as Canada Wins Gold". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  13. ^ Bukala, Jason (August 22, 2024). "An early ranking of top 10 prospects for 2025 NHL Draft". Sportsnet. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  14. ^ Brown, Jared (May 29, 2024). "OHL Announces 2023-24 All-Star & All-Rookie Teams". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
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