3 boxing matches in 5 games: A rookie makes the NHL unsafe
The National Hockey League (NHL) has a new attraction: She goes by the name Matt Rempe, is 2,03 meters tall, weighs 109 kilograms and has divided an entire league in just five games.
26. February 2024
From: leo
The role of enforcer is almost extinct in European ice hockey. These are large, powerful strikers who are usually deployed in the fourth line and attract attention through body checks, provocations and, last but not least, boxing fights. The aim is to protect your teammates and at the same time infuriate your opponent. The best-known example of an enforcer is Ryan Reaves, who is under contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Matt Rempe, who is only 21 years old, stole the show in the last few days.
The New York Rangers forward made his NHL debut at the famous MetLife Stadium, where American football is usually played. And in the first game on the big stage, Rempe started a fight with Matt Martin, another well-known enforcer from the New York Islanders. Rempe, who quickly gained cult status among Rangers fans, received a match penalty five days later in a duel with the New Jersey Devils for a check to Nate Bastian's head.
Brutal fight against Deslauriers
That's not all: against the Philadelphia Flyers, the 21-year-old agreed to start a fist fight with Nicolas Deslauriers during the warm-up. This happened after just three minutes. The video of the duel went viral on the internet. The Canadian also scored his first NHL goal in the same game. But Rempe obviously didn't have enough, because on Sunday he got involved in another fight - this time against Mathieu Olivier from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Three fights in the first five games of his career - that's record-breaking.Rempe is already an attractive figure in the ice hockey world. While many celebrate the rookie and his toughness, experts criticized his style of play and its longevity. Parallels were drawn to enforcers like Derek Boogaard, who died at just 28, sparking a major debate in the NHL. It remains to be seen whether Rempe will take a step back in the future.
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