Top draft prospect Schaefer to miss remainder of World Juniors with injury
Matthew Schaefer will miss the remainder of the 2025 World Juniors because of injury, Hockey Canada announced Saturday.
Schaefer sustained an apparent upper-body injury in a 3-2 shootout loss against Latvia on Friday. He left the game after striking the goal post on a rush opportunity four minutes into the first period. He did not return.
Ouch! 🤕
Lourde chute dans la bande pour Matthew Schaefer, qui a quitté et qui n’est toujours pas de retour dans le match 🇨🇦
📺 : RDS#MondialJunior | #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/Gr7mjU6sVJ
— RDS (@RDSca) December 28, 2024
Schaefer, No. 1 in FCHockey’s Winter ranking for the 2025 NHL Draft, finishes the tournament with two points (one goal, one assist).
“The loss of Schaefer is a massive one for Canada,” FCHockey scout Aaron Vickers said. “He’s such a multi-faceted defenseman and a player Canada could rely on in all situations, despite being the youngest blueliner on the team. His maturity, poise, and dynamic ability was very evident in his short stint in the tournament, and there are many, many bright days to come from a player of his pedigree.”
The 17-year-old has 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 17 games with Erie in the Ontario Hockey League this season.
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