Matt Rempe Bio
Matt Rempe is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays centre for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing at 6 feet 9 inches and weighing around 255 pounds, he is one of the tallest players in the league and is widely recognized for his combination of size, physicality, and emerging offensive skill. The Rangers selected him in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft with the 165th overall pick, and he made his professional debut in 2022. Rempe has gained league-wide attention for his fighting ability, his willingness to stand up for teammates, and his growing role as a depth contributor in New York.
Beyond his on-ice presence, Rempe has become a fan favorite in New York because of his engaging personality and his story of perseverance. After years of junior development and time in the American Hockey League (AHL), he earned a full-time NHL opportunity in 2024 and has since worked to round out his game. He signed a two-year contract extension with the Rangers in June 2025, signaling the organization’s belief in his long-term fit with the club.
Early Life and Background
Matt Rempe was born on June 29, 2002, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He grew up in a hockey household, and the sport quickly became a central part of his life. Calgary’s strong youth hockey scene helped shape his early development, giving him access to competitive rinks and skilled coaching from a young age.
Rempe experienced significant personal hardship as a teenager when his father, Ron, passed away in 2018. The loss deeply affected him and his family, and he has often spoken about the role that moment played in pushing him to work harder on and off the ice. He has two older twin sisters, Alley and Stephanie, both of whom went on to play college ice hockey at Brown University, reinforcing the deep hockey roots within the Rempe family.
Path to Professional Hockey
Rempe was not selected in the 2018 Western Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft, which served as an early setback. He initially joined the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) after being the final cut at the Seattle Thunderbirds’ training camp. The following season, he earned a spot with the Thunderbirds and quickly made an impact, posting 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points in 47 games during the 2019–20 campaign, even though an injury kept him out of the season’s first 15 games.
His play caught the attention of NHL scouts, and the New York Rangers selected him in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Seattle’s general manager and head coach both praised his work ethic, skating ability, and finishing touch. His 2020–21 season was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2021–22 he recorded 17 goals and six assists in 56 games for the Thunderbirds, solidifying his path to professional hockey.
Matt Rempe Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
Following his final junior season, Rempe attended Rangers training camps in 2021 and 2022, where he began building his reputation for physical play. During the 2022 camp, he engaged in a fight with the Philadelphia Flyers’ Wade Allison, signaling the aggressive style that would later define his early NHL stint. He was assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League for the 2022–23 season, where he posted six goals and four assists in 53 games while continuing to develop his professional game.
Rempe returned to the Rangers’ 2023 training camp and again made headlines for his fighting, including bouts with Ross Johnston and Scott Mayfield in exhibition games. His willingness to defend teammates impressed the coaching staff and helped him climb the organization’s depth chart.
Hartford Wolf Pack Development and NHL Debut (2023–2024)
During the 2023–24 AHL season, Rempe played both wing and centre for Hartford, showing positional versatility. After scoring eight goals through February 11, 2024, he was recalled by the Rangers. Though he was scratched for one game before being sent back down, another quick recall followed shortly after.
Rempe made his NHL debut on February 18, 2024, against the New York Islanders in the 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 the Islanders’ Matt Martin. He recorded his first NHL goal a few games later in a 2–1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, and he lit the lamp in his first NHL playoff game against the Washington Capitals on April 21, 2024, becoming the tenth Rangers rookie to score a playoff goal since Matt Gilroy in 2011.
New York Rangers Era (2024–Present)
Rempe’s physical style continued to draw attention during the 2024–25 season. On December 20, 2024, he was ejected for a hit from behind on Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen and received an eight-game suspension, the longest of its kind since 2018. Despite repeated league discipline, he remained a popular figure in the Rangers’ room and continued to provide energy in a fourth-line role.
In June 2025, Rempe signed a two-year, $1.95 million contract extension with the Rangers, reflecting the team’s commitment to his development. During the 2025–26 season, he broke his thumb in a fight with Ryan Reaves of the San Jose Sharks on October 23, 2025, causing him to miss roughly two months. He returned for 12 games before being shut down as the lingering injury limited his effectiveness.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rempe’s strengths begin with his rare size and reach, which make him a dominant physical presence along the boards and in front of the net. He is a willing and capable fighter, often protecting teammates, while also showing surprisingly agile skating for a player of his frame. Coaches have praised his ability to finish checks, play with pace, and contribute offensively in limited minutes.
Notable Events and Milestones
Rempe’s NHL debut at the 2024 Stadium Series stands as a signature moment, as does his first NHL goal against Philadelphia and his first playoff goal versus Washington. His eight-game suspension in December 2024 marked a significant disciplinary moment, while his June 2025 contract extension underscored his value to the Rangers’ long-term plans.
Matt Rempe Career Wins
Matt Rempe’s win totals at the NHL level remain limited because of his role as a depth and physical player, but he has produced several notable highlights since debuting in February 2024. His scoring plays, his willingness to engage in fights, and his playoff contribution have all marked him as a developing contributor for the Rangers.
New York Rangers Highlights
With the Rangers, Rempe has recorded his first NHL goal and his first NHL assist, along with his first playoff goal. Each milestone was significant in its own way: his debut goal helped seal a win over the Flyers, while his playoff tally placed him in a small group of Rangers rookies to accomplish the feat since 2011.
Other 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 mid-February of the 2023–24 season, demonstrating steady offensive growth. His junior totals with the Seattle Thunderbirds, including a 31-point campaign in 2019–20 and a 23-point output in 2021–22, further highlighted his development path.
Matt Rempe Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Matt Rempe comes from a tight-knit family with strong hockey ties. His two older twin sisters, Alley and Stephanie, both played college ice hockey at Brown University, making athletics a defining feature of the Rempe household.
Personal Life
Rempe’s father, Ron, passed away in 2018, a loss that has shaped Matt’s approach to the game. He has spoken about carrying his father’s memory with him, including during the emotional lead-up to his NHL Stadium Series debut, which fell on the sixth anniversary of Ron’s death. Rempe continues to live and work in the New York area as a member of the Rangers organization.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year was a pivotal stretch for Matt Rempe. He opened 2025 still establishing himself in the Rangers’ lineup, mixing physical play with growing offensive contributions. His June 18, 2025, contract extension provided stability and validated his standing within the organization as a player the Rangers view as part of their future plans.
The early months of the 2025–26 season, however, brought a major setback. On October 23, 2025, Rempe broke his thumb during a fight with San Jose’s Ryan Reaves, sidelining him for approximately two months. After returning, he played 12 games before the Rangers opted to shut him down because the lingering effects of the injury reduced his effectiveness on the ice.
Despite the injury, Rempe’s trajectory with New York remains promising. With a contract that runs through the 2026–27 season, he is expected to return at full strength and continue developing into a reliable bottom-six forward who brings size, toughness, and emerging skill to the Rangers’ lineup.
