The backstory on why Matthew Schaefer hopes to wear No. 48 with the NY Islanders

Matthew Schaefer may be the New York Islanders’ top pick and a rising NHL star, but he’ll be the first to tell you that his older brother is the real trailblazer in the family.

Growing up in Hamilton, Ontario, Schaefer idolized his big brother, Johnny, who was nine years older and played in the OHL with the Niagara Ice Dogs. Johnny passed down a legacy that still lives on today—his jersey number. You see, Matthew wears No. 48, not because of some superstar influence or lucky superstition, but because his brother did.

And the reason his brother picked that number? Daniel Brière.

“My brother was a defenseman, so I followed him there. He wore number 48 because of Danny Brière," said the top overall pick on Spittin' Chiclets. "My brother picked 48 because of Brière, and then I picked it because of my brother. I became a defenseman because he was one. I obviously looked up to him a lot. The number just kept going, and hopefully in New York I can keep it going too.”

Brière, now GM of the Philadelphia Flyers, was a dynamic, undersized center known for his scoring touch and playoff heroics. notching 307 goals and 696 points before retiring in 2015. He excelled in the postseason with 116 points across 124 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He was twice an All-Star, once with the Buffalo Sabres and later with Philly.

That small but meaningful connection to his brother is part of what makes Schaefer so grounded despite the spotlight. Their bond is tight. Whether it was driveway puck battles, pre-game pep talks, or shared dreams of the NHL, his brother was there every step of the way.

“You see how hard he works, how much he’s endured and gone through at such a young age,” Johnny said after Matthew was drafted. “I’ve been around him at all parts of his life, I guess you could say, from when he was a wee little kid to now towering over me. It’s just good seeing a good person do good things and get that kind of love and success."

Now, as Schaefer begins his NHL journey on Long Island, he carries that number and everything it symbolizes with pride. It’s a nod to family, legacy, and the early support system that helped shape him into the player and person he is today.