Before 91裸聊视频淩empemania91裸聊视频� was running wild in New York City, it made a brief stop in Penticton.
Matt Rempe, the 21-year-old rookie forward for the NHL91裸聊视频檚 Rangers, has been subject to extensive coverage in the United States91裸聊视频� largest media market for the last three months.
His physical play and ability to get thousands of people to chant his name in the world91裸聊视频檚 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 691裸聊视频�791裸聊视频�, 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 Islanders91裸聊视频� Matt Martin. Six days later, in a showdown against the Philidelphia Flyers, the OHA alumni again didn91裸聊视频檛 hesitate to drop his gloves and record another five-minute penalty.
But this time, he also added a goal 91裸聊视频� a game-winning marker in the final frame 91裸聊视频� 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.
Rempe91裸聊视频檚 old Penticton coaches have watched the frenzy unfold with excitement.
91裸聊视频淵ou couldn91裸聊视频檛 have scripted it any crazier than that, at the outdoor game and then what91裸聊视频檚 happened since,91裸聊视频� 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. 91裸聊视频淚f you want to know if any of us saw this coming, the answer would be 91裸聊视频榥o91裸聊视频�.91裸聊视频�
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 forward91裸聊视频檚 rise as 91裸聊视频淩empemania.91裸聊视频�
His popularity 91裸聊视频� or lack thereof in nearby northeast cities not named New York 91裸聊视频� only increased after he took centre stage in an early April line brawl against the New Jersey Devils and established himself as the NHL91裸聊视频檚 marquee 91裸聊视频渢ough guy.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 the nature of that role,91裸聊视频� Ward said. 91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 going to be a guy that everyone91裸聊视频檚 going to love when he91裸聊视频檚 on your team, and someone you91裸聊视频檙e not going to like when he isn91裸聊视频檛.91裸聊视频�
Rempe recorded 71 penalty minutes in 17 regular season games before suiting up in 11 high-energy playoff contests with the Rangers.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 wanna let [the fans] down,91裸聊视频� 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. 91裸聊视频淚 love them so much. No matter what. I want to go out there, make them proud and do something every shift.91裸聊视频�
Ward says Rempe was quiet, respectful 91裸聊视频渁nd had a shy personality91裸聊视频� when he was in Penticton from 2016 to 2018.
91裸聊视频淲hen Matt came here, like a lot of 14-year-olds, he was just coming into his own as a hockey player,91裸聊视频� Ward recalled.
91裸聊视频淗e already had good size, and there was some obvious skill set there91裸聊视频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.91裸聊视频�
His former coach added: 91裸聊视频淗e was also a great kid and great teammate to everyone.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淭he appreciation that I know Matt and his whole family have for the great people at Pen-Hi made for a great experience,91裸聊视频� Ward said. 91裸聊视频淭he school has always been tremendous to us and they don91裸聊视频檛 get enough credit for the work they do with our kids.91裸聊视频�
Rempe scored on April 21, in Game 1 of the first round against the Washington Capitals, to mark the Rangers91裸聊视频� opening goal of what91裸聊视频檚 become an extended and memorable postseason run.
91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 the one thing I know he91裸聊视频檚 doing, enjoying every moment and not taking it for granted,91裸聊视频� said Ward, who played for New York during the
Rempe91裸聊视频檚 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.
