Islanders' Matthew Schaefer Spends Olympic Break Coaching Youth Hockey

The 18-year-old rookie defenseman took time off from the NHL to give back to his local community.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

While many of his New York Islanders teammates spent the Olympic break vacationing in places like Mexico, Disney World, and Arizona, rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer opted for a more wholesome endeavor - he went home, saw his family, and spent time coaching youth hockey. Schaefer, who was the Islanders' first overall draft pick last June, said he enjoyed being on the bench supporting a local team in Ontario during their warmups and games.

Why it matters

Schaefer's decision to coach youth hockey during his Olympic break highlights his commitment to giving back to the community and staying connected to his roots, even as his NHL career takes off. At just 18 years old, Schaefer is already making a positive impact off the ice, which could inspire other young athletes to do the same.

The details

While the Islanders' older players were vacationing, the 18-year-old Schaefer told reporters that he "went home, saw family, and spent some time coaching youth hockey." Schaefer said the kids get "so excited" when he's on the bench, even though "I'm the same age as you guys." The young defenseman was considered for Team Canada's Olympic roster but did not make the final squad, though he was on the injury replacement list.

  • Schaefer spent the Islanders' Olympic break in February 2026 coaching youth hockey in his hometown.

The players

Matthew Schaefer

An 18-year-old rookie defenseman for the New York Islanders who was the team's first overall draft pick in 2025.

Kevin Maher

A reporter for News 12 who interviewed Schaefer about his Olympic break activities.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, it's definitely crazy. Just from before the draft to now, you get noticed a lot more. It's funny, the kids get so excited even though it's just like, 'I'm the same age as you guys.' But yeah, it's pretty funny when you can just coach some kids' games and be on the bench.”

— Matthew Schaefer (News 12)

What’s next

Schaefer and the Islanders will resume their season on Thursday, February 20th against the Montreal Canadiens in a key matchup between the two teams.

The takeaway

Schaefer's decision to spend his Olympic break coaching youth hockey rather than vacationing with his teammates shows his commitment to giving back to the community and staying grounded, even as his NHL career takes off. His wholesome endeavor could inspire other young athletes to find ways to make a positive impact off the ice.