Hometown hero Matthew Schaefer returns to Toronto with a massive cheering section, ready to face his childhood team in Canada for the first time.
EAST MEADOW, NY -- On Tuesday, rookie defenseman and Hamilton, Ontario native Matthew Schaefer will play in front of friends and family for the first time when the New York Islanders battle the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Schaefer, selected first overall by the Islanders at the 2025 NHL Draft, grew up a Maple Leafs fan an hour or so away from ScotiaBank Center.
The Hockey News asked the 18-year-old how many people he is expecting:
"There are lots of people that I've known but may not be super close to. It'll be pretty close to 1,000. It's nuts," Schaefer said. "Honestly, we have a box. So a lot of people I'm super close with will be in the box, and other people will get their own tickets and things like that that are coming. But, I mean, a lot of people are texting my dad."
Schaefer played hero the last time the Islanders played the Leafs, scoring twice, including the overtime winner, in a 4-3 win on Jan. 3.
Before the Eerie Otters selected Schaefer with the first overall pick at the 2023 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection Draft, he played for the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs U15 & U16 teams before playing for the Halton Hurricanes U16 teams.
Rookie forward and Oakville, Ontario native Calum Ritchie, whom the Islanders acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in the Brock Nelson trade-deadline deal in 2025, will be playing his first game back home as well.
Puck drop is Tuesday at 7 PM ET on MSGSN.