RANGERS MORNS WITH: On his father’s death anniversary, the Rangers honor…..
Sunday will represent a significant date for Matt Rempe and his family on a couple of distinctly different levels.
On the high end of that emotional spectrum could be hockey history. The 21-year-old forward prospect looks set to become the first player to ever make his NHL debut in an outdoor game, with the Rangers taking on the rival Islanders in a 3 p.m. puck drop at MetLife Stadium.
But that joy will come on an unimaginably painful anniversary. The day of the game − Feb. 18 − will mark six years since Rempe’s father, Ron, died suddenly from a heart attack while shoveling snow at their Calgary home.
“It’s crazy to think of that,” Rempe told lohud.com, part of the USA TODAY Network, from his new locker at the MSG Training Center. “I know that he’d be there with me. It’d be a really emotional day in front of my family. He was my best buddy.”
As is the case in many Canadian households, Ron Rempe was the driving force behind his son’s love of the game.
Matt described his father as “a big hockey guy,” a passionate Flames season-ticket holder and a dad who made sure his children had access to all the resources he lacked as a child.
“He grew up in an immigrant family from Germany, so he couldn’t afford to play hockey,” Rempe said. “He always wanted to, but they didn’t have the money. But he self-made himself. He built an engineering company from scratch and was a huge hero of mine.”
Losing him devastated the family and forced Rempe to grow up fast. He was just 15 at the time, preparing to leave home and chase his dream with the Spruce Grove Saints in the Alberta Junior Hockey League without his biggest supporter in his corner.
“I just had to throw myself into the game and put everything into it,” he said. “I think that was a way to deal with grief, as well, and just kind of distract myself. I was a really young kid and it was tough being away from my family.”
Rempe credited his teammates and coaches − not only during his year with Spruce Grove, but also in the following three seasons with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds − for helping him get through those difficult times.
“I had so many father figures,” he said.
At the center of it all was his mother, Janice, who held strong for Matt and his two older sisters, Steph and Alley, both of whom played for Brown University.
“My mom had to play two roles – mom and dad – and it was real hard for her,” Rempe said. “There was a lot of stuff she had to deal with, and is still dealing with. It brought our family closer together.”
Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette has been coy about plans to insert Rempe into the lineup following Thursday’s season-ending right-leg injury to veteran Blake Wheeler, but the 2020 sixth-round draft pick skated in the vacant fourth-line spot next to Adam Edström and Barclay Goodrow for each of the past two practices. That trio even stayed out late Saturday for additional work with assistant coach Dan Muse and skills coach Christian Hmura.
All signs are pointing to him debuting on one of the NHL’s biggest stages, with Rempe chomping at the bit for that opportunity.
“I think I’d handle it well,” he said. “I play a hard, physical game that runs on adrenaline, so I’m going to be juiced up to the max. I think I’m going to be buzzing out there. It’d be unreal. How can you not get going with all the fans and outdoors? This is pure hockey.”
His offensive production with AHL Hartford has been modest, with 12 points (eight goals and four assists) and a minus-nine rating through 43 games played this season. But the Rangers are pleased with the commitment he’s shown and progress he’s made the last couple years, which Rempe said centers around improving his skating and working on “the little details.”
“He’s played really well,” said Laviolette, who took a liking to Rempe during training camp. “He’s been playing a lot of center ice recently. He can play the wing, take faceoffs, physical, taking on more minutes and more responsibility in Hartford. Certainly, his size and his presence out there is also part of it, but he’s really worked on his game. He’s a great kid who’s been smiling ear to ear and looking for an opportunity.”
Most scouts view him as a fringe prospect who likely won’t play above the fourth line, but none question his toughness or work rate.
The 6-foot-8, 245-pounder would provide a menacing presence, especially with the 6-foot-7 Edström on the opposite wing. Wolf Pack captain Jonny Brodzinski has seen plenty of that firsthand.
“He’s a big teddy bear,” the current Rangers’ third-line center said with a smile. “But when he gets on the ice, he’s very intense. He’s definitely tough to play against.”
Brodzinski credited the young forward with understanding when to keep his emotions in check − but when it comes time to answer the bell or “juice the bench up,” he’s become one of the AHL’s most feared enforcers.
“I don’t think a lot of guys really want to fight him,” Brodzinski said. “He’s got so much length, and he’s so tough.”
Rempe put that on display when he dropped the gloves with former Islanders forward Ross Johnston during the preseason.
Both sides surely remember that, with the possibility for another tilt adding drama for the Stadium Series.
“I’m ready to go against anyone,” Rempe said. “I’m going to play by my game, and if something like that presents itself, I’ll be ready to go.”
'I know that he'll be watching'
Janice, Steph and Alley are all traveling to New Jersey for Sunday’s game, bringing the Rempes together for a moment that Ron surely would have relished.
Matt laughed as he recalled his father’s animated gestures in the stands.
“Oh my gosh. Every game, he’d be in the crowd shifting with us, moving around,” he said while mimicking the movements with his arms and shoulders. “I know that he’ll be watching. I think that he’d be proud of me and my two sisters.”
The wide smile that formed while thinking back to those precious moments soon faded. Then Rempe exhaled, contemplating the six years that have passed as the grief came flooding back to him.
On the eve of living out his dream, he’s bracing for emotions ranging from exhilaration to deep sadness. It’s a lot to process − the chance to honor his father’s memory and make NHL history at the same time − but he’s embracing it with the all-in style that got him here.
“That’d be insane,” he said. “If it happens, it’ll be really special.”