Islanders' Matthew Schaefer unveils support room named for his mother at Zuckerberg Cancer Center

Len London Jr. met Matthew Schaefer on Monday, and he was blown away by the Islanders’ 19-year-old star defenseman.

“Hanging out with Matthew, it was really good, man,” said London, 15, from Jamaica, Queens. “It was so crazy. He was so down to earth. He was very kind. He's a kind person. I didn't expect him to be so calm, down to earth and so kind.

“And the room's amazing. I love the room.”

That “room” is the Jennifer Schaefer Child Support Room, a dedicated space named for Jennifer Schaefer – Matthew’s mother who died in February 2024 following a two-year fight with breast cancer – to provide comfort, support and joy for children while their parent or caregiver undergoes cancer treatment.

It officially was unveiled Monday afternoon by Schaefer, the Islanders and Northwell Health at the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Center in Lake Success. It was made possible thanks to a $150,000 donation by the Islanders Children’s Foundation, and Schaefer added a personal contribution that will be used to fund programming for the children who visit.

London’s mother, Tenika Isaacs, was diagnosed with breast cancer in the winter of 2025. She completed radiation treatment last Friday, is now in remission, and spoke during Monday’s ceremony.

London beat Schaefer in bubble hockey in the hockey-themed room, which also features Islanders memorabilia, gaming consoles and a miniature Jumbotron with customized greetings and inspiring messages from Schaefer himself. The room also will be staffed by a trained child life specialist from Cohen Children’s Medical Center.

London and Isaacs participated in an honorary ribbon-cutting ceremony in the room alongside Schaefer, Schaefer’s father Todd, Schaefer’s older brother Johnny, Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky and Northwell Health president and CEO John D’Angelo.

London, nicknamed “LJ,” said the room was like “an arcade, except in a hospital” and it would have been “very helpful” for him as his mom underwent treatment.

“If I had this room when she was going through it, I would have been coming every day,” he said. “Not even to be in the room, just to support. It would have been a way easier way for me to support her. I couldn't make it to any of the appointments because we didn't have the room.

“But now that we have it, I'm glad other kids are able to support their parents like how I would have wanted to.”

Schaefer wished he had a similar room when his mom was undergoing treatment. He visited young cancer patients and their families throughout his rookie season, and he had a vision of “wanting to do something for the kids.”

“It's super special,” Schaefer said. “It's very touching. I've had this in my calendar. I know my family has had this on the calendar. I know my mom would be smiling down right now on us. She's probably like, ‘Why is my name on a room?’ kind of thing, and ‘Why is the room named after me?’ But at the end of the day, it's to help families, it's to help kids.”

Everyone who steps in the room will receive a bracelet with a ladybug on it. After Jennifer’s passing, Schaefer saw several ladybugs – a symbol that she was always with him in spirit. He gave the first bracelet to London.

From the get-go, it was evident that Schaefer’s relationship with the Islanders and Long Island was not your typical dynamic.

“I think a lot of times players will put their name on something, and that's that,” Ledecky said. “But Matthew actually does come to this cancer center over and over and over again – unannounced, no media, no press. He just wants to make a difference, and I think the center and the room reflect those values. And those are values that are so amazing in the right athlete, and Matthew is the right athlete for the right time.”

When the Islanders drafted Schaefer No. 1 overall on June 27, 2025, he teared up at the podium in Los Angeles as he kissed the pink cancer ribbon that the Islanders placed on his jersey. It was something that Schaefer didn’t know the Islanders would do.

“When I came in, I felt like I've been in this organization forever,” he said. “They've always had my back. It was family right away. To do something like this, you look around and you see so many Islanders staff here, just coming to support, coming to be a part of this, and it's awesome.

“I can't thank them enough for everything they've done, and they're going to continue to do so much for me.”

Todd is amazed at how Matthew’s relationship with the Islanders and Long Island has grown, too. He noted that the odds of the Islanders winning the lottery and selecting Schaefer “were against them” – 3.5%, to be exact – and he had “envisioned him being in other markets.” But the Islanders have allowed him to be a kid and his authentic self, and that is invaluable.

“Our parents always told us to be good people, and that's going to take you farther than any sort of job, money, salary, anything you can do, and that's what we've tried to do,” Johnny said. “And you can see it with Matthew, and this room just embodies our family."

By Ben Dickson

benjamin.dickson@newsday.com@bendickson__

Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.