The NHL offered Matt Rempe an in-person hearing for his hit on Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen, which cut short what had been a good game for the young Rangers forward on Friday night.
Since the league is offering Rempe a hearing in person, it allows the NHL the opportunity to hand down a suspension of six games or more — if they see fit.
The league announced it will hold the meeting via Zoom on Sunday.
New York Rangers center Matt Rempe (73), who was ejected for game misconduct, slams Dallas Stars’ Miro Heiskanen (4) against the boards in the third period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. APThe incident occurred in the middle of the third period as Heiskanen was going to play the puck along the boards.
Rempe followed suit and made the hard hit on the Stars defenseman, sending Heiskanen into the glass before he crumpled to the ice.
A scrum broke out as Heiskanen’s teammates attempted to come to his aid.
Rempe was assessed a 5-minute major and a game misconduct.
“I thought he led off a little bit at the end. He’s just such a big guy,” head coach Peter Laviolette told reporters after the game. “We killed the five, and we’re moving on.”
New York Rangers center Matt Rempe (73) checks Dallas Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel (6) during the first period at the American Airlines Center. NHLI via Getty ImagesBut moving on might be a bit harder for Laviolette and the Rangers, considering the predicament the team could be in now.
The NHL is in its holiday roster freeze that runs until Dec. 28 at 12:01 a.m., which means the Rangers could be without an extra forward for their next two games if Rempe is suspended.
The Rangers face the Hurricanes on Sunday at Madison Square Garden and then travel to Newark to battle the Devils on Monday before the NHL closes up shop for the holiday break.
New York Rangers center Matt Rempe (73) is escorted to the penalty box by official Tommy Hughes, before being ejected for game misconduct, in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. AP- CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND RANGERS STATS
Rempe was previously suspended four games in March after he elbowed Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler.
Over the course of 22 career NHL games, Rempe has been ejected four times.
He had just been called up by the Rangers on Wednesday, with Friday night’s win over the Stars marking his first appearance.
Prior to Friday’s game, the 22-year-old spoke positively about his experience in the AHL.
“I’ve come a long way in a short time, and I think that the best thing for me is to just keep developing and stuff like that,” he said.
