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