The National Hockey League (NHL) announced the Calder Memorial Trophy winner for the season yesterday, naming the New York Islanders' rookie phenom, Matthew Schaefer , as the youngest recipient of the award.
Schaefer secured all the first-place votes to become the league's first unanimous Calder Trophy winner in thirty-three years.
On an interview appearance on ABC's 'Good Morning America,' the 18-year-old was surprised by father Todd, brother Johnny, and former Islanders player Matt Martin and his two daughters in what was a truly emotional moment for him. Schaefer had lived with Martin and his family last season.
A day after receiving the silverware, the defenseman took the trophy to the Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park with the trophy in tow. He spent time with the children, interacting with them and joining in a birthday chant for one kid who was celebrating his birthday.
Earlier, he partnered with the organization to create a child support center for cancer patients and their families, along with his franchise's Islander Children's Foundation. The care center will be named after his late mother, Jennifer, who passed away in 2024 after a long battle with breast cancer.
The Islanders also pitched in for the center, donating $150,000 through the Islander Children's Foundation. Additionally, the space, set to open in October at the R.J Zuckerberg Cancer Center, will feature Islanders memorabilia, gaming consoles, bubble hockey, and a private area for grief counseling. Schaefer said about the project:
It's such an honor to be a part of this, and I can't wait to do so many great things… This is obviously something close to my heart, just being able to do something like this for my mom and especially everyone who's battling cancer.
After a trailblazing season with the Islanders, his off-the-rink charitable activities and behavior have earned a special place in many people's hearts. His willingness to use his fame and name for something bigger than hockey earned him many netizens' praise.
Mathieu Darche, the Islanders' general manager, also spoke of the 2025 No. 1 pick. He said that the youngster does a lot of philanthropy that is not publicized. Darche said of Schaefer:
He's a better young man than he is a player. Today there's media, but he does a lot of these things without the cameras. It's great when good people get rewarded.
Matthew Schaefer broke a long record when he won the Calder Memorial Trophy the other day. He became only the sixth New York Islander overall and the third defenseman to win the prestigious trophy since it was established in 1933.
Schaefer is also the youngest to win the trophy at 18 years and 223 days, a day younger than when Nathan MacKinnon won it almost a decade ago. Only six people have ever won the trophy as an eighteen-year-old.
Schaefer's win was sensational, securing all 198 ballots, becoming the first unanimous winner since Teemu Selanne won it in 1993-94 for the Winnipeg Jets. He's also the defenseman to win the trophy unanimously.
In the last season, Schaefer was instrumental in the Islanders' challenge to reach the playoffs before fading in the latter stages. He played all 82 games and scored 23 goals and 36 assists. His 23 goals are the most by a rookie defenseman, tied with Brian Leetch, and his 59 points are the most points by a rookie defenseman.
Along with Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens winning last year, this is the first time since 1964 that two consecutive Calder Trophy recipients were defensemen. Kent Douglas and Jacques Laperriere won the award for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens in 1963 and 1964. Douglas was also the first defenseman to win it.
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