Breadcrumb Path Hyperlinks
NHL
Article content material
Matt Rempe was strolling down the road in New York final week.
A automobile pulled up alongside the hulking Rangers rookie. Down rolled the home windows.
Article content material
“What’s occurring?” he thought to himself. Then the chanting began.
“They’re like, ‘Rempe! Rempe!”‘ he added with a smile. “I’m like, ‘Hey!’
“Fairly cool.”
A six-foot-seven ahead turning heads throughout hockey, Rempe has skilled loads of related moments eight video games into his NHL profession — largely due to his fists.
Commercial 2
Article content material
The Calgary native dropped the gloves on his first shift in opposition to New York Islanders powerful man Matt Martin. He additionally went toe-to-toe with Philadelphia’s Nicolas Deslauriers and Mathieu Olivier of Columbus.
His face a bruised and discoloured mess after receiving as many punches as delivered, Rempe then squared off with Toronto enforcer Ryan Reaves at centre ice on “Hockey Night time in Canada” final weekend.
“You may’t script that,” Matt O’Dette, Rempe’s junior coach, mentioned of his former participant’s rise. “Complete factor has been proper out of a film.”
The Huge Apple has a brand new cult hero.
The 21-year-old has posed for footage at a restaurant sporting two black eyes, been dubbed the “Rempire State Constructing” by followers, and had his identify bellowed by the group at Madison Sq. Backyard.
“Unbelievable,” mentioned Rempe, a lanky 240 kilos with a protracted attain. “Numerous enjoyable attending to stay my dream.”
The one hundred and sixty fifth choose on the 2020 draft additionally desires to indicate he can play.
“I can do a lot of various things,” mentioned Rempe, who has a purpose, an help and 39 penalty minutes by way of eight NHL video games. “However I need to be the man to face up for my teammates.”
Article content material
Commercial 3
Article content material
He’s achieved that by way of his 24 intervals within the present.
“Not a straightforward job,” mentioned Rangers defenceman Okay’Andre Miller. “Carried out an awesome job.”
O’Dette, who coached Rempe for 3 seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Seattle Thunderbirds, remembers first seeing the undrafted beanpole at spring camp.
“If he’s lanky now, you need to have seen him again then,” O’Dette mentioned. “A child giraffe.”
“Skinniest child ever,” Rempe mentioned. “A pair of ribs.”
However one thing was there. He labored on his expertise and within the gymnasium to fill out, scoring a mixed 25 regular-season and playoff targets in 2021-22.
Rempe, coincidentally, didn’t combat a lot in junior. Roughly 10 instances within the WHL earlier than someplace within the neighbourhood of 15 within the American Hockey League earlier than final month’s call-up.
“He’s studying on the fly,” O’Dette mentioned.
The Thunderbirds — the older gamers grew up underneath Rempe’s large wing — have been busing to Prince George, B.C., when he stepped outdoor and into the NHL at MetLife Stadium in entrance of 80,000 individuals in opposition to the Islanders on Feb. 18.
“The service wasn’t nice,” O’Dette mentioned of makes an attempt to stream the sport. “It reduce out and got here again. Remps was within the field. He’d already had the combat.”
Commercial 4
Article content material
Rempe’s rise has additionally reignited debates across the observe. Staged fisticuffs within the NHL have largely melted away with the rise of velocity and talent, however that’s not the case with Rempe, who’s been challenged in warm-ups.
And any time he was close to Reaves final Saturday as soon as the puck dropped, the group buzzed till the pair finally slugged it out to roaring approval.
“Appears to be a very nice, humble child,” mentioned the 37-year-old powerful man. “Going to be a menace on this league.”
Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe mentioned combating nonetheless has its place within the recreation.
“However the identical time, I’ve a brother that had over 200 fights,” he mentioned. “Actually see the protection aspect.”
O’Dette worries every time Rempe drops the gloves.
“Attempting to make a reputation for himself,” mentioned his former coach. “He’s devoted and dedicated to doing no matter it takes to remain within the NHL. However he’s a multi-faceted child. Plenty of layers to him.”
That features enjoying musical devices and being an enormous reader.
“Clever and real,” O’Dette mentioned. “I’m excited with this consideration. Folks will see what sort of particular person he’s, and in addition see he’s an excellent participant.”
Commercial 5
Article content material
Rempe, who made his NHL debut on the six-year anniversary of his father’s loss of life, didn’t neglect the assistance that acquired him to New York.
“Texted everyone on our workers to thank us,” O’Dette mentioned. “He put within the work, however to have the wherewithal to do this … particular child.”
Rempe, in the meantime, hasn’t been forgotten by individuals again in Calgary.
“My mother was like, ‘Your childhood physician phoned,”‘ he mentioned. “Referred to as my mother’s landline and talked about how proud he was.”
Rather a lot has modified for Rempe in lower than three weeks.
He’s additionally having fun with this trip — and a new-found fame that features getting acknowledged by passing motorists — within the metropolis that by no means sleeps.
“Media consideration is totally different,” he mentioned. “I simply go house and prefer to learn my books.
“It’s been actually cool, however simply need to keep level-headed.”
Article content material
Share this text in your social community