Before 害羞草研究所淩empemania害羞草研究所� was running wild in New York City, it made a brief stop in Penticton.
Matt Rempe, the 21-year-old rookie forward for the NHL害羞草研究所檚 Rangers, has been subject to extensive coverage in the United States害羞草研究所� largest media market for the last three months.
His physical play and ability to get thousands of people to chant his name in the world害羞草研究所檚 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 6害羞草研究所�7害羞草研究所�, 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 Islanders害羞草研究所� Matt Martin. Six days later, in a showdown against the Philidelphia Flyers, the OHA alumni again didn害羞草研究所檛 hesitate to drop his gloves and record another five-minute penalty.
But this time, he also added a goal 害羞草研究所� a game-winning marker in the final frame 害羞草研究所� 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.
Rempe害羞草研究所檚 old Penticton coaches have watched the frenzy unfold with excitement.
害羞草研究所淵ou couldn害羞草研究所檛 have scripted it any crazier than that, at the outdoor game and then what害羞草研究所檚 happened since,害羞草研究所� 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. 害羞草研究所淚f you want to know if any of us saw this coming, the answer would be 害羞草研究所榥o害羞草研究所�.害羞草研究所�
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 forward害羞草研究所檚 rise as 害羞草研究所淩empemania.害羞草研究所�
His popularity 害羞草研究所� or lack thereof in nearby northeast cities not named New York 害羞草研究所� only increased after he took centre stage in an early April line brawl against the New Jersey Devils and established himself as the NHL害羞草研究所檚 marquee 害羞草研究所渢ough guy.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 the nature of that role,害羞草研究所� Ward said. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 going to be a guy that everyone害羞草研究所檚 going to love when he害羞草研究所檚 on your team, and someone you害羞草研究所檙e not going to like when he isn害羞草研究所檛.害羞草研究所�
Rempe recorded 71 penalty minutes in 17 regular season games before suiting up in 11 high-energy playoff contests with the Rangers.
害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 wanna let [the fans] down,害羞草研究所� 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. 害羞草研究所淚 love them so much. No matter what. I want to go out there, make them proud and do something every shift.害羞草研究所�
Ward says Rempe was quiet, respectful 害羞草研究所渁nd had a shy personality害羞草研究所� when he was in Penticton from 2016 to 2018.
害羞草研究所淲hen Matt came here, like a lot of 14-year-olds, he was just coming into his own as a hockey player,害羞草研究所� Ward recalled.
害羞草研究所淗e already had good size, and there was some obvious skill set there害羞草研究所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.害羞草研究所�
His former coach added: 害羞草研究所淗e was also a great kid and great teammate to everyone.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淭he appreciation that I know Matt and his whole family have for the great people at Pen-Hi made for a great experience,害羞草研究所� Ward said. 害羞草研究所淭he school has always been tremendous to us and they don害羞草研究所檛 get enough credit for the work they do with our kids.害羞草研究所�
Rempe scored on April 21, in Game 1 of the first round against the Washington Capitals, to mark the Rangers害羞草研究所� opening goal of what害羞草研究所檚 become an extended and memorable postseason run.
害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 the one thing I know he害羞草研究所檚 doing, enjoying every moment and not taking it for granted,害羞草研究所� said Ward, who played for New York during the
Rempe害羞草研究所檚 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.
