The 17-year-old defenseman of Erie of the Ontario Hockey League paid tribute to his late mother after hearing his name called. He arrived to L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater in a suit jacket that included photos of his mom Jennifer, who passed away in February 2024 from breast cancer.

The New York Islanders selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft. The Islanders surprised nobody by using their first No. 1 selection since 2009 on the 17-year-old Schaefer,