Rangers’ Matt Rempe to have in-person hearing with NHL on Sunday for major penalty against Stars
Matt Rempe will have an in-person meeting with NHL Department of Player Safety on Sunday. The 22-year-old New York Rangers forward faces a suspension for his actions on Friday night against the Dallas Stars.
Rempe, who returned to the Rangers’ lineup for a 3-1 road win against the Stars on Friday, is facing league discipline after he received a five-minute major and game misconduct for elbowing at 7:13 of the third period. The incident occurred when the 22-year-old drove defenseman Miro Heiskanen’s head into the glass. Rempe was judged to have led with his elbow, the head was the primary point of contact, and he made no attempt to prepare for the boards.
If the infraction might require a suspension of more than five games, the offending player is offered the opportunity to an in-person hearing. In that case, the player remains suspended until the hearing takes place. If the player waives his right to an in-person hearing, the hearing will be conducted by telephone.
Heiskanen was slow to get up, went to the dressing room and missed about six minutes of game time before returning. He played four more shifts.
After the hit, Stars center Roope Hintz raced in to defend his teammate. He and Rempe each received two-minute minors for roughing, meaning that Rempe was assessed a total of 17 minutes in penalties.
The Rangers killed off the five-minute power play, with goaltender Igor Shesterkin making eight saves.
Rempe was credited with five hits and drew three penalties in his 5:32 of ice time. It was his fifth game this season with the Rangers.
Related: Rangers Daily: Losing streak over, Matt Murray emotional return to Maple Leafs
Matt Rempe made impact for Rangers before ejection against Stars
“I thought he had a big impact on the game,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said postgame. “I’d like to stay away from the five-minute major, but he’s doing his best to hit bodies and make a difference in the game. Our guys really rallied around that at the end.”
The ejection was Rempe’s fourth in 22 NHL games. He last received a game misconduct for taking part in a line brawl between the Rangers and New Jersey Devils on April 3. That came after he was assessed a major penalty — and an eventual four-game suspension — for elbowing Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler on March 11. In the previous Rangers-Devils game on Feb. 22, Rempe received a match penalty for a hit on Nathan Bastian.
Given Rempe’s prior suspension for the head shot on Siegenthaler, he is now regarded as a repeat offender – meaning that he figures to be in line for a longer suspension.
The game in Dallas was Rempe’s first for the Rangers since Nov. 25 against the St. Louis Blues. The Rangers recalled him from their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, where he had three goals, five points and 22 penalty minutes in 18 games, after trading Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday.
In his five NHL games this season, the 6-foot-9 forward has one shot on goal and 24 penalty minutes, averaging 6:15 of ice time. He had one goal, one assist and 71 penalty minutes in 17 games last season.
More About:New York Rangers News
Read This Next
