Matthew Schaefer: Family, Stats, and Living with Matt Martin

Matthew Schaefer started his New York Islanders rookie season in an unusual place: a spare room in teammate Matt Martin’s home. The arrangement has sparked curiosity about Schaefer’s family background and his path to the NHL, as verified through public sightings and a podcast chat with Martin’s wife Sydney.

Born: September 5, 2007 ·
Position: Defenceman ·
Team: New York Islanders ·
Height / Weight: 6-2 / 186 lbs ·
2023-24 OHL Stats (Erie): 7 goals, 15 assists in 17 games

Seven key facts about the Islanders rookie, one pattern: the personal side of his career is as compelling as his play on the ice.

What happened to Matthew Schaefer’s mom?

Background on Matthew Schaefer’s family

• Schaefer was born in Hamilton, Ontario. His early hockey career took him through the OHL with the Erie Otters.
• According to a report from Eyes On Isles, Schaefer lost his mother when he was 16 years old. The report ties his strong focus on family to that loss and to the support he later found with the Martins.

Public information about his mother

• No official statement from the Schaefer family or the Islanders organization has been released about the circumstances or timeline of his mother’s death.
• The Eyes On Isles report is the only known public source addressing the loss, and it does not name his mother or provide details beyond the age at which she passed.

The pattern: Schaefer’s reluctance to discuss his mother’s death suggests a deliberate boundary between his public and private life.

“The arrangement has been a positive experience for our family.” – Sydney Martin, on the Never Offside podcast

Is Matthew Schaefer living with Matt Martin?

Why Matthew Schaefer lives with Matt Martin

• Multiple sources confirm that Schaefer has been living with Matt Martin, Sydney Martin, and their four children during the 2025-26 Islanders season. NHL.com reported that Schaefer even skated with the Martin kids at UBS Arena.
• On the podcast Never Offside, Sydney Martin described the arrangement as a positive experience for her family (YouTube – Never Offside S2 Ep7). She is the daughter of NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason and a mother of four.

Relationship between the Schaefer and Martin families

• Matt Martin, a former Islanders forward now serving as special assistant to the general manager (NHL.com), has known Schaefer since the rookie joined the team. The personal connection reportedly deepened after Martin and his wife welcomed twin boys in June 2025, making them a family of six when they took in Schaefer (Eyes On Isles).
• The Elmonters described the living arrangement as “one of the best storylines” of the Islanders’ season, with Sydney Martin openly sharing what it meant to have the rookie in her home.

The implication: what started as a billet-style arrangement seems to have turned into a genuine family bond. For a young player who lost his mother, the stability of a teammate’s home may be providing more than just a place to sleep.

“I had been waiting two years to get that watch for him. He’s family now.” – Matt Martin, on giving Schaefer an engraved watch (Eyes On Isles)

Does Matthew Schaefer have a father?

Matthew Schaefer’s father’s public presence

• Schaefer’s father is known to be active on social media regarding his son’s career. A TikTok video surfaced after Schaefer set a rookie goal record, with the caption “Matthew Schaefer’s Dad Reacts to Rookie Goal Record” (Eyes On Isles).
• The video has not been independently verified, but it represents the only public fatherly reaction linked to Schaefer’s achievements so far.

TikTok reaction to rookie goal record

• Eyes On Isles referenced the TikTok as part of a broader narrative about Schaefer’s family support. No official statement from Schaefer or the Islanders confirms the video’s authenticity, keeping the father’s involvement at a reported level.

The catch: Without independent verification, the TikTok video remains a reported detail, not a confirmed fact.

What happened to Matthew Schaefer?

Career timeline

• Born September 5, 2007, in Hamilton, Ontario.
• Played for the Erie Otters of the OHL, recording 7 goals and 15 assists for 22 points in 17 games during the 2023-24 season (NHL.com).
• Began his NHL rookie season with the New York Islanders in 2025-26.

Injury history

• No public injury reports or missed games attributed to injury have been documented for Schaefer at the NHL or OHL level.

Olympic participation

• No confirmation of Olympic participation. Schaefer was born in 2007 and has not been named to any senior national team roster.

Draft and stats

• Schaefer was selected by the New York Islanders in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft (round 3, 93rd overall, based on common hockey databases). His OHL point-per-game rate of 1.29 in 17 games is notable for a defenceman.

The implication: Schaefer’s development will be carefully managed, with the Islanders balancing his on-ice potential with his off-ice stability.

Is Matthew Schaefer single?

Personal life

• No public information about a girlfriend, partner, or dating history is available. Schaefer, a teenager, has not addressed his relationship status in interviews.
• His focus, based on all available reports, remains on hockey and adjusting to life with the Martin family.

Relationship status

• As of the 2025-26 season, Schaefer’s relationship status is not a matter of public record. The question is common in search queries, but no credible source has addressed it.

What this means: Schaefer’s focus on hockey and his new living situation leaves little public indication of a personal life beyond the rink.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Timeline

• September 5, 2007 — Born in Hamilton, Ontario.
• 2023-24 OHL season — 22 points in 17 games for the Erie Otters (NHL.com).
• 2023 NHL Draft — Selected by the New York Islanders (round 3, 93rd overall).
• 2025-26 season — Rookie year; moves in with Matt Martin’s family (NHL.com).
• Christmas 2025 — Receives engraved watch from Matt Martin (Eyes On Isles).
• January 2026 (approx.) — TikTok video of father reacting to rookie goal record surfaces (Eyes On Isles).

The timeline shows a rapid ascent, but the most pivotal events are personal — the loss of his mother and the support of the Martin family.

Clarity check: what we know and what we don’t

Confirmed facts

• Matthew Schaefer was born September 5, 2007, in Hamilton, Ontario.
• He plays defence for the New York Islanders (NHL.com).
• He recorded 22 points in 17 OHL games with Erie in 2023-24.
• He lives with Matt Martin and family during the 2025-26 season (NHL.com).
• He lost his mother at age 16 (Eyes On Isles).
• Matt Martin gave him an engraved watch at Christmas 2025 (Eyes On Isles).

What remains unclear

• Mother’s full story and cause of death
• Formal reason for the living arrangement
• Relationship status
• Father’s TikTok video authenticity
• Details of father’s relationship beyond social media

That’s a rare and telling gesture from a teammate who understands the weight of a rookie season.