Lila is currently battling cancer and met the young defenseman during a commercial shoot for Hyundai.
The adorable fan gave a wave to the camera as Schaefer sang her praises.
“She’s the best, so I got to meet her. She’s so cute,” Schaefer told the panel. “She was such a sweetheart. Let’s me give her hugs. I’m a big hugger, so she let me give her hugs, so that’s a deal breaker for me.
“She’s awesome. She’s battling something that my mom obviously battled and it’s not fair for her being so young, but she’s tough, she’s strong and she’s got this.”
After the game, Schaefer said he hoped he put a smile on Lila's face an revealed how the moment came about.
"I told her I wanted her to come to one of the Toronto games," Schaefer said. "We were able to make this one work and for her to be able to be on the bench, the Islanders really helped out with putting her beside me in the interview. Just to have her there and at the game was awesome."
In February 2024, Schaefer’s mother, Jennifer, died after battling breast cancer. The 19-year-old has since honored her memory by participating in various initiatives to support young children battling the disease.
A special family room named the Jennifer Schaefer Child Support Center is set to soon open at the Cohen Children’s Medical Center on Long Island. The young defenseman announced the partnership in May.
-NHL.com independent correspondent Dave McCarthy contributed to this report.
