Matthew Schaefer Reflects on Past Junior Championships and Olympic Aspirations

CHICAGO — A year ago, Matthew Schaefer was on the ice for Team Canada during the World Junior Championships held in his home country.

Though the experience was bittersweet—Canada finished fifth and Schaefer faced a broken collarbone—he fondly remembers the lively atmosphere at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. “Seeing everyone on their feet during the game was just unreal,” he recalled before the Islanders’ match against the Blackhawks.

With Olympic gold now within reach, he’s wondering, will he get the chance to don the Maple Leaf again?

“I can’t imagine anyone saying no to representing their country,” Schaefer remarked. “Canada has such a rich hockey heritage. Anyone would jump at the chance. It’s a tremendous honor and experience.”

Both Schaefer and teammate Bo Horvat are awaiting news from Team Canada management, which is set to announce the Olympic roster during a press conference in Minneapolis, where the World Junior Championships are currently taking place.

“Right now, I’m focused on the game at hand, but it’s always there in the back of my mind,” Horvat said. “I want to represent my country. I’ve worked hard to give myself the best chance.” He added, “Whatever happens, I’ll still be proud to be Canadian. It would be amazing to represent Canada, but we’ve got many talented players, so we’ll have a strong team regardless.”

Horvat seems poised to make the team, likely as a fourth-line player or contributing on the penalty kill.

Schaefer’s future, however, is contingent on Hockey Canada’s decision to stick with the eight defensemen already selected for the tournament or make changes.

If they’re not on the initial list, there’s still a chance they could be called up as injury replacements.

Schaefer is among a handful of 18-year-olds who’ve played for Canada in the Olympics, joining the ranks of Kirk Muller (1984), J.J. Dainot (1984), and Eric Lindros (1992). If chosen, he would break the record for the youngest Canadian to compete in an Olympic hockey tournament, previously held by Drew Doughty, who was 20 in 2010.

“If I get a call, that’d be awesome, but if not, I’ll just keep my focus on playing for the Islanders,” Schaefer said. “There are so many great defensemen in Canada, so I’m just going to do my thing out on the ice.”

All national federations must submit their rosters by Wednesday, although the U.S., Sweden, and Finland are pushing their announcements to January 2. For the Islanders, Emil Heinemann and Simon Holmström from Sweden are also waiting to hear about their prospects.

Swedish assistant GM Josef Boumedienne was recently in New York, meeting with the Islanders’ three Swedes—Heinemann, Holmström, and Adam Boqvist. Heinemann is in the running for a position on Team Sweden, while Holmström’s chances will depend on whether the team needs a more defensive player.

“I dream of it,” Heinemann expressed about playing in the Olympics. “I think it would be incredible—just like any kid who aspires to participate in the Games, I still have that dream.”