Detroit Red Wings forward James van Riemsdyk will be spending Christmas in Minnesota.
So will the Detroit Lions, albeit for much different reasons.
The Lions are playing the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day. Van Riemsdyk is planning to spend Christmas Day at home with his family, playing with his infant twins.
“Definitely, I’m going to cherish every second I can with them this year,” van Riemsdyk said.
Signing with the Red Wings as an unrestricted free agent this summer, the van Riemsdyk family decided to stay in Minnesota for the winter while James was in Detroit playing hockey.
We could watch this over and over again ❤️
Christmas with Les Canadiens 💙 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/GQdwjDtZlb
— NHL Alumni (@NHLAlumni) December 20, 2025
Thanks to the NHL’s built-in holiday break, he’ll get the chance to celebrate Christmas with his family in their home.
“I think that’s obviously a really important thing for us, especially for someone like me this year when my family’s not here with me,” van Riemsdyk said.
Red Wings Embrace NHL Holiday Hockey Hiatus
The NHL hasn’t scheduled a game on Christmas Eve since 1972. There hasn’t been a game played on Christmas Day since 1971. The holiday break is part of the CBA between the league and the players.
Meanwhile, the NBA plays games every Christmas Day. The NFL does likewise when the holidays fall within the league’s schedule matrix.
Lions offensive lineman Penei Sewell recently expressed his displeasure over the team being slotted to play on Christmas.
The Red Wings are happy that the only thing on their plate come Christmas Day will be a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.
“I think with a tradition like that, it means a lot to the guys,” Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said of the NHL’s Christmas break. “And it means a lot to me.
“My first Christmas with my daughter, something that I’ll always remember, and I’m so excited for her.
“So it’s a special time of year. It’s going to be even more special this year.”
On this day in 1972, Ed Giacomin recorded his 40th career shutout, as the Rangers blanked the Red Wings 5-0 in one of the NHL’s final Christmas eve games #Hockey365 #NYR pic.twitter.com/u5qYYODFnl
— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) December 24, 2024
Even the coaching staff will be taking some downtime during the holiday season.
“I drive down with Yawns (assistant coach Trent Yawney) all the time and picked him up (Tuesday) morning,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. “And we get tired, too.
“Like, I know we don’t skate a lot or do anything, but we have long hours, and we spend a lot of time on the computer. And I said to him, I can’t wait until (Wednesday) and not open up my computer, not even think about or talk about hockey.
“I will spend my wife, and we’ll spend a couple of days together, just the two of us.”
On the gridiron and on the hardwood, the mantra is ho, ho, hold that turkey. There are games to be played.
On the ice, they just say Noel.
It’s a beautiful thing.