James van Riemsdyk talented addition to the Boston Bruins roster

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Hunter Bowman
July 12, 2023 (12:05)

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James van Riemsdyk, the talented winger for the Boston Bruins, has a fascinating background that adds depth to his impressive career.

Born in New Jersey, van Riemsdyk and his two younger brothers all played hockey for the University of New Hampshire Wildcats, amassing a combined total of 280 games played and 193 points scored.

While James was the first to skate at the Whittmore Center in 2007, his brothers surpassed his achievements in both games played and points.

Before being selected as the second overall pick by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2007 Entry Draft, van Riemsdyk honed his skills with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.

During this time, he formed a close friendship with Patrick Kane, who coincidentally became the first overall pick in the same draft class. Together, they developed remarkable chemistry, propelling van Riemsdyk to become the seventh-highest scorer in 2007.

Van Riemsdyk's impact on the ice goes beyond his personal achievements. On March 28, 2014, while playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, he made NHL history by scoring a goal just four seconds into the second period against his former team, the Flyers.

This feat tied him with Claude Provost and Denis Savard for the quickest goal scored in any period.

Among players from New Jersey, van Riemsdyk holds the second-highest scoring record in the NHL with 591 points, trailing only Johnny Gaudreau (683).

Remarkably, he has scored against 111 different goalies throughout his career, with the most goals coming against Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens (14) and Tuukka Rask, formerly with the Boston Bruins (10).

Off the ice, van Riemsdyk actively participates in charity hockey events, including the Da Beauty League, which aims to support charitable causes and promote the growth of the game in Minnesota.

He has also been involved in initiatives like Operation Hat Trick, assisting those affected by Hurricane Sandy, and fundraising for the Flyers' COVID-19 program.

With his move to the Boston Bruins, van Riemsdyk looks forward to facing his favorite opponent, as he has had great success against the Bruins in the past. In 49 games against Boston, he has recorded 37 points, the most he has achieved against any team in the league.

As he enters the 2023-24 season, van Riemsdyk returns to New England with the determination to prove himself. Despite his impressive career, he has yet to win a Stanley Cup, a goal that many of his fellow second-overall picks have accomplished.

With the Bruins aiming to rectify past disappointments after an exceptional regular season, they rely on van Riemsdyk, a consistent 20-goal scorer, to make a significant impact on their quest for glory.

Source: Thehockeywriters