MIAMI — Matt Rempe couldn’t help but reminisce.

Two reporters gathered around his spot in the back left corner of a very cramped quarters for the New York Rangers in the visiting clubhouse of loanDepot Park, site of the 2026 NHL Winter Classic, which was set to be played on Friday night, and the conversation inevitably turned to his NHL debut.

It was one that occurred under similar circumstances, an outdoor game against the New York Islanders on Feb. 18, 2024 as part of the Stadium Series at MetLife Stadium, a memorable showing for the six-foot-nine, 261-pound winger who quickly gained a cult following before the game had even ended.

“I remember that first time and just how nervous I was,” Rempe said. “That was my first NHL practice even, and you’re just so nervous about everything for that first kind of taste of the NHL and on a big stage like that. It’s pretty cool to bring back some pretty special memories I’ll remember forever.”

Likely the most vivid? His fight with Matt Martin off the faceoff on his first shift just 1:29 into the game, a moment he still is very complimentary towards Martin on.

Just don’t expect a repeat of it on Friday night.

The 23-year-old revealed to New York reporters several weeks ago that he broke his left thumb in “many places” in his fight with San Jose Sharks enforcer Ryan Reaves in late October, forcing him to miss 24 straight games.

As he was working his way back, Rempe says the Winter Classic was a game he had circled on his calendar that he didn’t miss, ultimately making his return on Dec. 15.

“I had a ten-week timeline-type of thing that they gave me, and I really pushed hard because the end of that was right around today, but I was able to come back a bit earlier, which was great,” he said. “This is a game that I really wanted to play in.”

However, he’s not 100 percent back to normal yet, and has yet to fight since being reinserted into the lineup, which has led to a very palpable frustration in not being able to fulfill one of the biggest parts of the role he plays.

“It’s extremely frustrating,” he said. “It’s a big part of my job, and I take a lot of pride in that. It’s what I’ve done since 16, 17 years old. It’s always been a big part of my game. I think I have to take it as a learning thing. You’re going to have those type of things in your career where you’re not able to do that, and you’ve got to find other ways to contribute. Still be physical, hard, skate fast and do that stuff, but it’s eating on me. Especially last game, that type of stuff, not being able to do the job, it was just frustrating. Hopefully soon, I just can’t make that fist yet. But getting that strength, it’s coming.”