Matthew Schaefer has handled adversity and heartache all over his younger existence.
Some of the most sensible possibilities for the 2025 NHL draft will have to now triumph over but every other hurdle.
The 17-year-old defenceman will pass over the remainder of the sector junior hockey championship after he used to be injured enjoying for Canada in Friday’s shocking 3-2 shootout loss to Latvia.
Schaefer crashed into the opposition web at ferocious velocity off the frenzy on an influence play within the first length, his left shoulder making blank touch with the function body.
The Hamilton product stayed down in brief within a hushed Canadian Tire Centre prior to skating off and heading to the host nation’s locker room.
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“Large blow to our crew,” Hockey Canada’s Peter Anholt, who heads the boys’s under-20 program, mentioned Saturday on the crew’s resort in Ottawa’s west finish. “Subsequent man up.
“We’re going to want some higher performances out of a few guys on our again finish. We really feel we’ve were given the folk again there to do it.”
Schaefer, who had a function and help in Thursday’s 4-0 win over Finland that opened the development for each groups, is projected to be some of the most sensible choices at June’s draft.
An offensive motive force from the again finish due to an elite skating stride, he has seven targets and 15 assists for 22 issues throughout 17 video games this season for the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters after overcoming a bout of mononucleosis.
“It’s unhappy, you are feeling for him,” Canadian ahead Easton Cowan mentioned. “You don’t need that to occur to somebody.
“Me and the men really feel for him so much.”
Vancouver Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio of Kamloops, B.C., will slot into the lineup for Canada, which is taking a look to get again heading in the right direction Sunday in Staff A in opposition to Germany following one of the most worst defeats in this system’s historical past.
“Really feel actually dangerous for the fellow,” Canadian defenceman Oliver Bonk mentioned of Schaefer. “Nice child, a laugh being round him. He used to be enjoying wonderful. It’s undoubtedly a difficult loss.”
The blueliner has skilled a number of that lately.
Schaefer’s mom, Jennifer, died of breast most cancers in February. That devastating information got here 3 months after his billet mom, Emily Matson, died by way of suicide. After which previous this month after he made Canada’s international junior roster, mentor and Otters proprietor Jim Waters died of a center assault.
“Tricky child,” Anholt mentioned.
“He’s resilient. He’ll come thru this.”
The six-foot-two, 183-pound Schaefer helped his nation win gold on the under-18 international championship within the spring and once more at this summer time’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
“I’m certain Schaefer would need us to win for him,” Canadian ahead Bradly Nadeau mentioned. “That’s the least shall we do.”
&reproduction 2024 The Canadian Press
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