James van Riemsdyk went back to the University of New Hampshire Saturday night where the Wildcats swept the University of Maine.
James van Riemsdyk went back to the University of New Hampshire Saturday night where the Wildcats swept the University of Maine.
James van Riemsdyk was met with a roaring crowd at the Whittemore Center Arena.
The Boston Bruins forward, and former University of New Hampshire Wildcat, had just logged three points in Saturday afternoon’s game against the Los Angeles Kings before making it over to his alma mater for a night of college hockey.
The No. 19 Wildcats pulled off an upset weekend sweep of the No. 7 University of Maine Black Bears with a 5-2 win and van Riemsdyk in the building.
“I got to bring my daughter and my wife with me there. Obviously always nostalgic to come back,” van Riemsdyk told The Hockey News following Sunday’s Bruins practice. “I think it had been like eight years since I’ve been back to campus to see a game. Obviously no better one to see than a rivalry game like that, see a big win.”
The now NHL veteran spent two seasons at UNH from 2007-2009 after getting selected second overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2007 Draft. While with the Wildcats, van Riemsdyk made the national tournament in consecutive years, and was one win away from Frozen Four berth his sophomore year.
Van Riemsdyk combined for 74 points (28 goals, 46 assists) in his two seasons at UNH.
“Definitely a time that I will always look back on very fondly, so to share that now with my daughter, my family and stuff like that, it’s definitely something that’s super special,” van Riemsdyk said.
UNH has had a resurgence this season in Hockey East. The Whittemore Center Arena is sold out nearly every weekend, and the home team has delivered some big-time victories through 28 games thus far.
Tied for fifth place in Hockey East, the Wildcats have a 16-11-1 overall record and have taken down top-ranked competition like the reigning national champions Quinnipiac University, No. 3 Boston University and, most recently, No. 7 Maine.
“That was always one of my favorite parts playing there, just the buzz at the arena. It would usually be 6:00 when they’d let the students in, and it’d be packed by 6:02, everyone running to their seats,” van Riemsdyk said.
“To see them get some of that back lately this year, and to see the team doing well, it’s been fun to follow.”
The quality of play in college hockey has continued to improve since van Riemsdyk’s days in the NCAA, and the pipeline to the NHL has arguably never been stronger. According to College Hockey Inc, 234 NCAA alumni were listed on opening-night rosters for the 2023-24 NHL season.
Even looking at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, six of the top-20 selections – Adam Fantilli, Will Smith, Ryan Leonard, Tom Willander, Matthew Wood and Oliver Moore – are college hockey products. Not to mention Gabe Perreault who went 23rd overall and is leading the No. 1 Boston College Eagles with 46 points in his freshman year, or the projected No. 1 pick of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft Macklin Celebrini skating for BU.
“I think it still just continuously establishes itself as a great option or route for players to develop and face good competition and have a great life experience, too,” van Riemsdyk said of college hockey.
“We’re seeing it now, especially the last few years, we’ve got some really highly-touted guys going into the draft playing their draft seasons in college hockey. I think it continues to add to that tradition that’s been built over the years.”
The Bruins are no stranger to college hockey – especially Hockey East. Van Riemsdyk, along with Charlie McAvoy, Matt Grzelcyk, Charlie Coyle, Kevin Shattenkirk and Jeremy Swayman all played in the conference.
While the B’s have bigger things to focus on currently – namely, breaking their four-game losing streak Monday against the Dallas Stars – van Riemsdyk was able to take a moment to appreciate where he came from and where he is now.
“Just lots of fun games that we were part of over the years,” van Riemsdyk said. “I’ve been able to catch some UNH games there and watch a bunch of them on TV. That’s been an awesome part of being back [in Boston].”
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