Matt Rempe Bio
Matt Rempe is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a centre for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. Born on June 29, 2002, in Calgary, Alberta, Rempe was selected by the Rangers in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft with the 165th overall pick. Known for his towering size and physical style of play, he has gained attention across the league since making his professional debut in 2022.
Standing at 6 feet 9 inches tall and weighing around 240 pounds, Rempe is one of the tallest players to skate in the modern NHL. His combination of reach, strength, and willingness to engage physically has earned him a reputation as an enforcer, a role that has become rare in today’s game. Despite his rugged approach, Rempe has also demonstrated offensive upside, highlighted by his first NHL goal and his first NHL playoff goal early in his career.
Early Life and Background
Matt Rempe was born on June 29, 2002, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He grew up in a sport-oriented household where ice hockey played a central role in family life. His father, Ron Rempe, passed away in 2018, an event that shaped Rempe’s perspective and drive. His two older twin sisters, Alley and Stephanie, both played college ice hockey at Brown University, exposing Matt to high-level competition and a culture of perseverance from a young age.
Rempe’s physical attributes stood out early, and he developed his game through the junior ranks in western Canada. Although he was not selected in the 2018 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft, his work ethic and raw tools kept him on the radar of professional scouts. The loss of his father became a source of motivation, and Rempe has publicly credited the experience with making him stronger and more determined to succeed.
Path to Hockey
After being passed over in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft, Rempe began his junior career with the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. He had been the final cut at training camp with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League, but his play in the AJHL helped him earn a second chance. The following year, he made the Thunderbirds’ roster and quickly became a force in the lineup.
During the 2019–20 season with Seattle, Rempe recorded 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points in 47 games despite missing the first 15 games of the year due to injury. His performance caught the attention of NHL scouts, and he was drafted 165th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. After the draft, Thunderbirds general manager Bill LaForge Jr. called him a steal, praising his size, skating, and scoring touch.
Matt Rempe Career
Early Career (2020–2022)
Rempe’s 2020–21 season with the Seattle Thunderbirds was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned healthy for the 2021–22 campaign and posted 17 goals and six assists in 56 games, reinforcing his status as a prospect with offensive potential to match his physical presence. That summer, he received an invitation to the Rangers’ training camp ahead of the 2022–23 season.
During the 2022 Rangers training camp, Rempe made an immediate impression by fighting Wade Allison of the Philadelphia Flyers in a scrimmage. He was assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League for the 2022–23 season, where he scored six goals and added four assists in 53 games while continuing to develop his two-way game.
NHL Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Rempe returned to Rangers training camp in 2023 and turned heads again by engaging in exhibition fights with Ross Johnston and Scott Mayfield. Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette praised his willingness to stand up for teammates while noting his ability to finish checks and contribute offensively. After starting the 2023–24 season in Hartford, where he played both wing and centre, Rempe was recalled to New York in February 2024.
On February 18, 2024, Rempe made his NHL debut against the New York Islanders at the 2024 NHL Stadium Series, becoming the first player in league history to begin his NHL career in an outdoor game. Just four seconds into his first shift, he dropped the gloves with Islanders forward Matt Martin. Four days later, in only his third NHL game, Rempe received a match penalty for an illegal hit to the head on New Jersey Devils forward Nathan Bastian. He responded by scoring his first NHL goal the very next game, a 2–1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Rempe’s rookie stretch was defined by physicality and milestones. He recorded his first NHL assist and fourth fight in his fifth game before receiving a four-game suspension on March 11, 2024, for elbowing Devils defenceman Jonas Siegenthaler. On April 21, 2024, he scored a goal in his first NHL playoff game against the Washington Capitals, becoming the tenth Rangers rookie to find the scoresheet in the postseason since Matt Gilroy in 2011.
New York Rangers Era (2024–Present)
Rempe entered the 2024–25 season looking to build on his rookie campaign and earn a full-time role with the Rangers. On December 20, 2024, he was ejected for the fourth time in his career after a hit from behind on Dallas Stars defenceman Miro Heiskanen that drove Heiskanen’s face into the glass. The NHL Department of Player Safety suspended Rempe for eight games, the longest suspension of its kind since 2018.
On March 2, 2025, Rempe was involved in a controversial incident against the Nashville Predators, delivering a high elbow to defenceman Nick Blankenburg that led to a fight with Andreas Englund. Despite his prior disciplinary record, the league chose not to impose additional punishment. On June 18, 2025, the Associated Press reported that Rempe signed a two-year, $1.95 million contract extension with the Rangers, locking him in through the 2026–27 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rempe’s game is built around his rare combination of size, reach, and skating ability for a player of his stature. He uses his 6-foot-9 frame to win board battles, finish checks, and protect teammates, while also showing the hands and shot to contribute offensively. His willingness to drop the gloves has made him a central figure in the Rangers’ identity, even as the traditional enforcer role has faded from the modern NHL.
Notable Events and Milestones
Rempe’s NHL debut at the 2024 Stadium Series stands as one of the most unique openings to a career in league history. He became the first player to start his NHL career in an outdoor game and immediately engaged in a fight four seconds into his first shift. His first NHL goal, first playoff goal, and record-setting eight-game suspension all underscored how quickly he became a storyline in the league.
Matt Rempe Career Wins
Matt Rempe’s career is still in its early stages, and his résumé is defined more by milestones and physical performances than by traditional win totals. Across junior, AHL, and NHL play, he has consistently delivered in high-leverage moments, including his first NHL goal, first NHL playoff goal, and multiple memorable fights.
NHL Highlights
Rempe scored his first NHL goal on February 24, 2024, in a 2–1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. He added his first NHL playoff goal on April 21, 2024, against the Washington Capitals, joining a short list of Rangers rookies to accomplish the feat since 2011. While win totals remain limited given his brief time in the league, his impact in each game has been measurable through goals, fights, and energy plays.
Other Wins & Performances
In the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack, Rempe posted six goals and four assists in 53 games during 2022–23 and added eight goals through February 2024 the following season. His junior track record with the Spruce Grove Saints and Seattle Thunderbirds featured strong offensive outputs, including a 31-point season in 2019–20 that helped launch his NHL career.
Matt Rempe Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Rempe comes from a family with deep roots in ice hockey. His two older twin sisters, Alley and Stephanie, both played the sport at Brown University, giving Matt a strong competitive foundation from an early age. His father, Ron Rempe, passed away in 2018, a loss Rempe has cited as a driving force behind his career.
Personal Life
Matt Rempe maintains a close relationship with his family and has often spoken about the influence of his sisters and the memory of his late father. He is a Canadian citizen who grew up in Calgary, Alberta, and continues to play at the highest level of professional hockey with the New York Rangers organization.
2025 Season Performance
Matt Rempe’s 2024–25 season with the New York Rangers has been a study in growth and discipline. After an eight-game suspension in December 2024, he returned to the lineup and continued to provide physicality and energy in a bottom-six role. His March 2025 incident against the Nashville Predators drew attention, but the league’s decision not to add further discipline allowed him to finish the season without interruption.
Rempe finished the campaign as one of the most talked-about young players in the league, balancing enforcer duties with steady offensive contributions. His contract extension, signed in June 2025, signals that the Rangers view him as a long-term piece of their forward group. With two more years remaining on his deal, Rempe will have the chance to refine his game and reduce the penalties that have punctuated his early NHL career.
Looking ahead, the 2025–26 season offers Rempe an opportunity to expand his role and cement his place in the Rangers’ lineup. Continued improvement in discipline, combined with his existing tools of size, speed, and scoring touch, could make him a two-way contributor rather than solely a physical presence. The organization and its fan base will be watching closely as he builds on the foundation of his first two NHL seasons.