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Hockey Star Invites Brave Young Fan On Air
18 Oct
Summary
- Young fan battling cancer joined player live on air.
- Player met the fan during a commercial shoot for Hyundai.
- Player honors his late mother's fight against cancer.
New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer recently featured a young fan named Lila during a pregame interview with the Saturday Night Hockey crew. Lila, who is currently battling cancer, joined Schaefer on the Islanders' bench before their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Schaefer shared that he met Lila during a commercial shoot for Hyundai and was impressed by her spirit. He spoke about her bravery in facing her illness, drawing a parallel to his own mother's recent passing after a battle with breast cancer in February 2026.
In honor of his mother, Jennifer, Schaefer has been involved in initiatives supporting children with cancer. He recently announced a partnership to establish the Jennifer Schaefer Child Support Center at Cohen Children's Medical Center, set to open soon on Long Island.
