Rempe, Reaves trade haymakers early in Sharks’ overtime win

NEW YORK — Warming up to play hockey in an arena that has hosted some of the best boxing matches in history, from Muhammad Ali versus Joe Frazier to Evander Holyfield against Lennox Lewis, Matt Rempe skated over and asked fellow heavyweight Ryan Reaves if he wanted to fight Thursday night.

“Yeah, maybe,” Reaves said.

Rempe tried again off a faceoff early, and Reaves wanted to hit somebody on the New York Rangers first. He did just that to Juuso Parssinen, and two of the toughest players in the NHL dropped the gloves for a knockout, drag-out, old-school hockey fight at center ice at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. Reaves and the San Jose Sharks won 6-5 in overtime for their first victory of the season.

“It was unbelievable,” said Sharks center Will Smith, who scored in OT. “It got us all going and can’t say enough about him.”

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After sizing up each other and grappling, Reaves’ helmet fell off, and then he knocked off Rempe’s with his next right. The two exchanged blows for more than 20 seconds, with the crowd buzzing.

Rempe got Reaves’ jersey over his head and was striking at Reaves’ head when linesmen Shandor Alphonso and Matt MacPherson broke it up.

“He’s a big boy and you have to fight guys like that a little bit differently,” Reaves said. “I’ve seen him fight, so I know what he’s good at, what his weaknesses are. It was a good tilt.”

Reaves went to the penalty box to serve the 5-minute major, while Rempe went down the tunnel with training staff.

Fans chanted, “Rempe! Rempe!” as he exited. Rempe did not return for the second period, and the Rangers announced the 23-year-old was out for the remainder of the game because of an upper-body injury. Coach Mike Sullivan said afterward Rempe was still being evaluated.

The league in recent years prevented players from removing their helmets before fighting. Reaves, who is 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, is one of just four players allowed on the ice without a visor.

“Most of the guys coming in that fight have to wear visors, so if anything, I’m at a disadvantage,” Reaves told The Associated Press after the Sharks’ morning skate earlier Thursday. “I miss fighting guys with no visor because I cut my hands a lot more, and they’re able to protect themself a little bit more. I find I’ve got to get through an extra layer to get to the face.”

Fighting has drastically decreased from a time when there was one roughly every other game. Fisticuffs are down 200% since the 2000-01 season.

Rempe, who is 6-foot-9 and 261 pounds, became an instant fan favorite and popular teammate in 2024 for his willingness to fight some of the sport’s most established enforcers. He spent time on the ice that summer with retired tough guy Georges Laraque, getting technique tips on how to better use his reach and protect himself.