Before B次元官网网址淩empemaniaB次元官网网址� was running wild in New York City, it made a brief stop in Penticton.
Matt Rempe, the 21-year-old rookie forward for the NHLB次元官网网址檚 Rangers, has been subject to extensive coverage in the United StatesB次元官网网址� largest media market for the last three months.
His physical play and ability to get thousands of people to chant his name in the worldB次元官网网址檚 most famous arena has a lot to do with it.
Not too long ago, a 14-year-old Rempe would attend classes at Penticton Secondary School before lacing up his skates to play for the Okanagan Hockey Academy (OHA), hoping to beat the odds and one day get his shot in the bigs.
Originally from Calgary, Alta., Rempe was drafted by the Rangers in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Draft.
After two seasons with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, and another year and a half with the Hartford Wolfpack in the AHL, the 6B次元官网网址�7B次元官网网址�, 241 pound-forward made his NHL debut on Feb. 18, 2024.
Ninety seconds after the opening puck drop, in front of almost 80,000 people outdoors at MetLife Stadium, Rempe dropped his gloves and fought the New York IslandersB次元官网网址� Matt Martin. Six days later, in a showdown against the Philidelphia Flyers, the OHA alumni again didnB次元官网网址檛 hesitate to drop his gloves and record another five-minute penalty.
But this time, he also added a goal B次元官网网址� a game-winning marker in the final frame B次元官网网址� en route to being named first star.
The thousands of people who have packed Madison Square Garden (MSG) in the three months since have regularly been heard chanting his name.
RempeB次元官网网址檚 old Penticton coaches have watched the frenzy unfold with excitement.
B次元官网网址淵ou couldnB次元官网网址檛 have scripted it any crazier than that, at the outdoor game and then whatB次元官网网址檚 happened since,B次元官网网址� said longtime OHA vice-president Dixon Ward, who played 10 seasons in the NHL, including for the Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres and Rangers, from 1992 to 2003. B次元官网网址淚f you want to know if any of us saw this coming, the answer would be B次元官网网址榥oB次元官网网址�.B次元官网网址�
After becoming the first player in NHL history to make his debut in an outdoor game, New York sports fans began referring to the imposing forwardB次元官网网址檚 rise as B次元官网网址淩empemania.B次元官网网址�
His popularity B次元官网网址� or lack thereof in nearby northeast cities not named New York B次元官网网址� only increased after he took centre stage in an early April line brawl against the New Jersey Devils and established himself as the NHLB次元官网网址檚 marquee B次元官网网址渢ough guy.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the nature of that role,B次元官网网址� Ward said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 going to be a guy that everyoneB次元官网网址檚 going to love when heB次元官网网址檚 on your team, and someone youB次元官网网址檙e not going to like when he isnB次元官网网址檛.B次元官网网址�
Rempe recorded 71 penalty minutes in 17 regular season games before suiting up in 11 high-energy playoff contests with the Rangers.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 wanna let [the fans] down,B次元官网网址� the forward told reporters on May 25, after a loud, Rempe-loving MSG crowd watched the Rangers top the Florida Panthers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. B次元官网网址淚 love them so much. No matter what. I want to go out there, make them proud and do something every shift.B次元官网网址�
Ward says Rempe was quiet, respectful B次元官网网址渁nd had a shy personalityB次元官网网址� when he was in Penticton from 2016 to 2018.
B次元官网网址淲hen Matt came here, like a lot of 14-year-olds, he was just coming into his own as a hockey player,B次元官网网址� Ward recalled.
B次元官网网址淗e already had good size, and there was some obvious skill set thereB次元官网网址ut by no means was he a physical force. While he was with us, we were working more on his physical skillset and game understanding than anything else.B次元官网网址�
His former coach added: B次元官网网址淗e was also a great kid and great teammate to everyone.B次元官网网址�
The OHA vice president praised Penticton Secondary for hosting not only Rempe but all the travelling athletes who call the South Okanagan their temporary home while playing at the academy.
B次元官网网址淭he appreciation that I know Matt and his whole family have for the great people at Pen-Hi made for a great experience,B次元官网网址� Ward said. B次元官网网址淭he school has always been tremendous to us and they donB次元官网网址檛 get enough credit for the work they do with our kids.B次元官网网址�
Rempe scored on April 21, in Game 1 of the first round against the Washington Capitals, to mark the RangersB次元官网网址� opening goal of whatB次元官网网址檚 become an extended and memorable postseason run.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the one thing I know heB次元官网网址檚 doing, enjoying every moment and not taking it for granted,B次元官网网址� said Ward, who played for New York during the
RempeB次元官网网址檚 Rangers are currently in the Eastern Conference Finals against Florida and sit two wins away from reaching the Stanley Cup Finals, as of May 31.
