NHL Draft Combine: Otters Teammate Malcolm Spence On Why Matthew Schaefer Is Special

The Islanders potenital No. 1 draft pick is a gem on and off the ice.

BUFFALO, NY — If you sat down for five minutes with potential No.1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer, you’d be blown away by his maturity. At just 17 years old, his outlook on life after dealing with the loss of his billet mom to suicide and his birth mom to breast cancer is really inspiring.

It makes what he’s able to do on the ice even more remarkable, given the tragedies he’s had to overcome.

Here’s what his Erie Otters teammate, roommate, and fellow draft-eligible prospect Malcolm Spence had to say about his dear friend.