Canada suffers "big blow" with loss of Matthew Schaefer for the rest of World Juniors

"But that's the beauty of Canada in a lot of ways. It's the depth."

Published Dec 28, 2024  •  Last updated 1 hour ago  •  2 minute read

Canada's Matthew Schaefer (right) battles for the puck against Swiss players in pre-tournament action. Schaefer suffered an injury on Friday that will force him miss the rest of the tournament. Photo by Sean Kilpatrick /THE CANADIAN PRESS

The news Saturday morning was as devastating as it was expected:

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Standout Canadian defenceman Matthew Schaefer will miss the rest of the World Juniors with an injury suffered in Friday’s loss to Latvia.

Respected hockey insider Bob McKenzie posted on X that Schaefer broke his collarbone and will likely be sidelined for 2-3 months.

Schaefer, a 17-year-old sure to be either selected first or soon thereafter in next June’s National Hockey League draft, crashed violently into a goal post while driving to the net early in the first period of the 3-2 upset that ranks as one of the most surprising in tournament history.

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From a pair of exhibitions against a U Sports all-star team through the pre-tournament competition and an opening, 4-0 victory over Finland, the Erie Otters blueliner was arguably Canada’s best player.

Filling his spot on the backend will be Sawyer Mynio, a third-round Vancouver Canucks pick who has thus far watched the action from a seat in the press box.

Also expected to dress for Sunday’s must-win game against Germany is forward Carson Rehkoph, a Seattle Kraken second-round selection who has scored 72 goals in his past 87 games in the Ontario Hockey League.

“Big injury, obviously, a big blow to our team,” Team Canada management lead Peter Anholt said in addressing the loss of Schaefer in the lobby of Kanata’s Brookstreet Hotel. “But that’s the beauty of Canada in a lot of ways. It’s the depth. Mynio will come in, and it’s next guy up. We’re going to need some better performances out of some guys on our back end, and we feel we’ve got the people back there to do it.

“The thing about Schaef is he plays play so well … He skates and he makes things happen. And, you know what, the next guy up is going to have to do it for us.”

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It’s been a tragic past 12 months for Schaefer, a native of Stoney Creek, Ont., who lost his mother to cancer in February and then saw the owner of his junior team, who was a close friend, suffer a deadly heart attack in December.

One year ago, his billet mom, Emily Matson, passed away at the age of 42.

Canadian teammates expressed their sorrow for Schaefer, a popular player among the group.

As for the loss on the ice, returning blueliner Oliver Bonk and Schaefer had developed in Canada’s top tandem.

“It’s tough,” Bonk said of losing his D-man partner. “I feel really bad for the guy. He’s a great kid. It’s fun being around him. He’s playing amazing.

“So it’s definitely a tough loss.”

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