Matthew Schaefer had company on the Islanders bench before Saturday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Lila, a young fan undergoing cancer treatment, joined the 19-year-old defenseman for his pregame television interview after the two met during a Hyundai commercial shoot.
- Bench note: Lila sat beside Schaefer during the pregame interview and waved to the camera.
- Schaefer said Lila was “tough” and “strong,” adding that her fight resonated with him because of his mother’s battle with cancer.
- Jennifer Schaefer died of breast cancer in February 2024.
- Schaefer has taken part in initiatives supporting children facing cancer since his mother’s death.
- The Jennifer Schaefer Child Support Center, a family room at Cohen Children’s Medical Center on Long Island, is expected to open soon. Schaefer announced the hospital partnership in May.
What it meant for the game against Toronto
The moment was personal for Schaefer, who had invited Lila to attend one of the Islanders’ games in Toronto. The club helped arrange for her to be on the bench alongside him during the interview.
“She’s the best,” Schaefer said before the game. “She was such a sweetheart. I’m a big hugger, and she let me give her hugs.”
He also spoke directly to the weight of her situation, noting that a child should not have to face such a diagnosis. Still, he said Lila had shown him plenty of resolve.
Afterward, Schaefer said he hoped the visit had given her a reason to smile.
“I told her I wanted her to come to one of the Toronto games,” Schaefer said. “We were able to make this one work. Having her there, on the bench and at the game, was awesome.”
