本周，当顶级少壮、后卫马修·谢弗（Matthew Schaefer）在洛杉矶孔雀剧院登上NHL选秀大会舞台时，这位排名第一的后劲新星将不会独自走上台阶。

谢弗笃信他已故的母亲詹妮弗将在精神上追随着他。对于这位17岁的伊利水獭队球员来说，这将是一个欢然的时刻——他正在缅思阿谁即便在16个月前因癌症死字后，仍以另一种阵势追随他走过每一步的东说念主。

谢弗说：“我心爱指摘我的母亲，因为我回忆的都是答应的时光，而非追到的旧事。”

他回忆起詹妮弗（Jennifer）穿上守门员装备，迎接他和他哥哥射门的那些时光。即便生病时，她也会强打精神，在家里的地下室玩迷你曲棍球。

谢弗补充说念：'她的精神永久与我同在。我知说念她会在每场比赛的前排顾惜着我。' '我只思传承她的精神、品格和她所代表的一切。'

靠近其他损结怨勤奋时，谢弗（Schaefer）母亲所展现的千里着与力量，塑造了他乐不雅进取的心态。

在谢弗（Schaefer）母亲死字前约两个月，他投止家庭的母亲碰到火车撞击身一火，事件被判定为自裁。同庚12月，他代表加拿大赴渥太华参预寰宇后生锦标赛本领，水獭队（Otters）雇主兼谢弗的导师吉姆·沃特斯（Jim Waters）因腹黑病发作离世。谢弗在赛事中锁骨骨折，导致他缺席了赛季临了三个月的比赛。

尽管如斯，谢弗拒却被可怜和悲催所界说。

他说：“阅历这一切后，我的心态发生了很大变化。目击母亲与癌症反水的经由——病魔试图击垮她，但她永久面带浅笑，不挠不折。她是我见过最强硬的东说念主。”

中央球探排名榜首位

谢弗（Schaefer）的刚烈精神令东说念主歌唱：这位来自安约略省汉密尔顿市、身高6英尺2英寸（约1.88米）、体重183磅（约83公斤）的球员，在北好意思溜冰通晓员中永久保执着NHL中央球探排名的榜首位置，而为期两天的选秀大会将于周五拉开帷幕。

尽管对于将谢弗（Schaefer）排在安约略冰球定约（OHL）萨吉诺精灵队高产中锋迈克尔·米萨（Michael Misa）之上的争论特地热烈，但球探总监丹·马尔（Dan Marr）暗示，谢弗之是以胜出，是因为他在健康景况下展现出的超过后劲。

马尔曾评价谢弗在加拿大U18夏日营中“抢尽风头”，随后这位队长更在8月率队获取辛卡/格雷茨基杯时孝敬6分（2进球4助攻）。因单核细胞增加症错过安约略后生联赛赛季初段后，他在着力伊利队本领17场比赛砍下22分（7进球15助攻），后因伤缺席寰宇后生锦标赛。

马尔在评价这位攻守兼备、滑行通晓的后卫时暗示：'我以为球队不错省心肠将他视为内外如一的球员。'这名后卫戒备肃穆，进犯时又能组织接应，被中央球探部门誉为'迥殊天才'。

沙弗（Schaefer）的品格是无法算计的。马尔（Marr）说：“他就像一股崭新的空气。”

水獭队前卫马尔科姆·斯彭斯（Malcolm Spence）在与舍费尔（Schaefer）同住本领，每天都见证着这种品性。

斯宾塞说：'他是个你根底看不出阅历过什么糟糕的东说念主，每天醒来脸上都带着笑颜。'

宽裕魔力的个性

谢弗（Schaefer）在纽约州布法罗市举行的选秀前纠合试训中全程展现出迷东说念主的个性，随后他又与顶尖少壮们一同前去佛罗里达州不雅摩斯坦利杯决赛第三场。他主动跳过了纠合试训中的卧推和引体进取测试措施，并饱读舞其他少壮们追求凯旋。

在佛罗里达州，谢弗（Schaefer）回忆说念，他抵达时旅社房间尚未准备好，于是便诈骗这阳光明媚的一太空出当作。

“咱们几个晒黑了小数，”他说。“对此我很快意。我原来肤色就挺白的。不错说，我这是冰球场晒出来的肤色。”

惟一让他感到病笃的是，在见到几位NHL球员时他心生敬畏，其中包括佛罗里达队的布拉德·马尔尚和埃德蒙顿队的康纳·麦克戴维——后者曾是伊利湖水獭队球员，并在2015年选秀中以状元身份被选中。

谢弗（Schaefer）坦言我方解救油东说念主队时激励了一阵笑声，随后又补充说念在与马尔尚（Marchand）会面时忘了说起此事。

共享他的故事

谢弗（Schaefer）也有严肃的一面，这在纠合测验本领进展得尤为彰着。他成心拜访了布法罗地区一家为追到青少年提供援助的公益组织。

纽约州西部怜惜定约的纠合创举东说念主格温·米西亚克对谢弗诱骗不雅众的方式印象深入，不雅众中约有15名年纪在7至17岁之间的青少年。

“当他穿过这些门时，你能感受到他诚实的天性，以及他何如满怀关切地思要用我方的可怜作念出篡改，”她说说念。

米西亚克（Mysiak）的丈夫两年前死字，她补充说念：'能得到这么一位正处于NHL做事糊口首先的年青东说念主的同伴解救，真实是一份礼物。' '我将有生以来第一次不雅看NHL选秀，因为他确切俘获了咱们的心。'

谢弗（Schaefer）暗示，此次探访是他能作念的最基本的事，并提到他为了到场以致错过了我方的高中毕业仪式。

谢弗在回来自己阅历时暗示：'有些年青东说念主正在阅历起劲时辰。很多东说念主民俗把情谊藏在心里，而我思尽己所能让他们轻视下来。'

他说：'要知说念，若是爱能扶持他们，他们就会永久活下去了。这是我信奉的一句理所当然。但性掷中一切齐有因果，这让我变得无比强硬。而我思去匡助他东说念主。'

When the time comes for defenseman Matthew Schaefer to take the stage at the NHL draft inside the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles this week, the top-ranked prospect wont be climbing the stairs alone.

Theres no doubt in Schaefers mind his late mother Jennifer will be accompanying him in spirit. It will stand as a joyous moment for the 17-year-old Erie Otters player celebrating the person whos been at his side for every step even after she died of cancer some 16 months ago.

I love talking about my mom, because I talk about the happy memories instead of the sad memories, Schaefer said.

He recalled the times Jennifer suited up in goalie equipment to face shots from him and his older brother. Even when sick, shed muster the energy to play mini-sticks in the family basement.

Shes always with me in spirit. I know she has a front-row seat to every game, Schaefer added. I just want to carry on her legacy and character and the person she was.

His mothers poise and strength are reflected in shaping Schaefers-upbeat perspective in the face of other losses and setbacks.

Some two months before Schaefers mother died, the mother of his billet family was struck and killed by a train in what was ruled a death by suicide. In December, he was in Ottawa representing Canada at the world junior championships when Otters owner and Schaefers mentor, Jim Waters, died of a heart attack. Schaefer broke his collarbone at the tournament, forcing him to miss the final three months of the season.

Through it all, Schaefer refuses to be defined by pain and tragedy.

My mindset has changed a lot with everything. Just seeing what my mom went through, having a smile on her face with cancer kind of trying to bring her down, but she wouldnt let it, he said. Shes the strongest person Ive ever known.

No. 1 in Central Scouting rankings

A testament to Schaefers perseverance: The 6-foot-2, 183-pound player from Hamilton, Ontario, has remained atop NHL Central Scoutings rankings among North American skaters with the two-day draft opening on Friday .

Though the debate between ranking Schaefer over high-scoring OHL Saginaw Spirit center Michael Misa was close, scouting director Dan Marr said Schaefer earned the nod because of the development he showed when healthy.

Marr referred to Schaefer as stealing the show at Canadas Under-18 summer camp before scoring six points (two goals, four assists) in captaining Canada to win the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup in August. After missing the start of the OHL season with mononucleosis, he posted 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 17 games with Erie before being sidelined at the world juniors.

Hes one of the guys I think teams can safely interpret what you see is what you get, Marr said of a two-way, fluid-skating defenseman who is responsible defensively, a play-maker offensively, and labeled a special talent by Central Scouting.

Whats unmeasurable is Schaefers character. Hes just a breath of fresh air, Marr said.

Its a quality Otters forward Malcolm Spence saw in Schaefer every day as a roommate.

Hes a guy that you wouldnt even know what hes gone through, Spence said. He wakes up every day with a smile on his face.

Engaging personality

Schaefers engaging personality was on display throughout the pre-draft combine in Buffalo, New York, followed by him joining top prospects in attending Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final in Florida. In skipping the combines bench-press and pullup testing portions, he urged his fellow prospects to succeed.

In Florida, Schaefer recalled how his hotel room wasnt ready upon arrival, so he took advantage of a sunny day.

We got a little tan going on, a couple of us, he said. Im happy with that. Im pretty light as it is. I have a hockey rink tan, as Id say.

The only thing fazing him was being awestruck in meeting several NHL players, including Floridas Brad Marchand and Edmontons Connor McDavid , a former Otters player who went No. 1 in the 2015 draft.

Schaefer elicited a laugh when saying he was rooting for the Oilers, before noting he failed to mention that in meeting Marchand.

Sharing his story

There is a serious side to Schaefer, evident during the combine. He made a point to visit a Buffalo-area outreach group for grieving youths.

Gwen Mysiak, co-founder of Western New York Compassion Connection, was impressed by how Schaefer engaged an audience that included about 15 youths, ranging in ages 7 to 17.

When he walked through these doors, you sensed the genuine nature he has, and how passionate he is to make a difference with all his pain, she said.

To have peer support coming from a young man like that on the precipice of his NHL career was a gift, added Mysiak, whose husband died two years ago. I will be watching the NHL draft for the first time in my life because he really captured our hearts.

Schaefer said the visit was the least he could do, noting he skipped his high school graduation ceremony to be there.

Theres young kids that are going through tough times. A lot of people love to keep it in, and I want to try to put their minds at ease in any way, Schaefer said, before reflecting on his experiences.

You know, if love could have saved them, they would have lived forever. Thats a good saying I go by, he said. But everything happens for a reason in life. Makes me super stronger. And I want to help people.

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