New York Islanders player Matthew Schaefer unveils memorial room

New York Islanders player Matthew Schaefer, in partnership with the New York Islanders Children's Foundation and Northwell Health, has unveiled the Jennifer Schaefer Child Support Room at the R. J. Zuckerberg Cancer Center in New Hyde Park, New York.

The room is named in honor of Schaefer’s late mother, who passed away from breast cancer in 2024. Designed to provide comfort for children while their parents undergo cancer treatment, the space features hockey-themed elements, including Islanders memorabilia, air hockey, bubble hockey, and gaming consoles. Counseling services will also be available to children utilizing the facility.

The project was supported by a $150,000 gift from the Islanders Children's Foundation, alongside a personal contribution from Schaefer. During the unveiling, Schaefer noted that the room provides a space where children can be themselves and escape the hospital environment. He also plans to distribute ladybug bracelets, a symbol of comfort he used during his mother’s illness, to children using the room.