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Puempel Pumped Up

March 23, 2019, 5:21 PM ET [3 Comments]
Bob Duff
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Matt Puempel is pumped up. It’s not often you get to make a childhood dream come true.

Growing up in Essex, Ont., less than an hour from Detroit, Puempel, 26, was raised a Red Wings fan.

“Obviously, there was a lot of success in the late 90s,” Puempel told Detroitredwings.com. “I remember going to (Stanley Cup) parades and the silver peak hat, the Stanley Cup championship hat, I have that in the basement. And I had some Wings jerseys as a kid.”

Saturday, as the Wings tangle with the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena, Puempel will become one of them. Called up Friday from AHL Grand Rapids, the 6-1, 205-pound left-winger will make his Red Wings debut, drawing in to replace Michael Rasmussen, listed as day-to-day with an upper body injury.

“It’s real nice to be part of this organization and to play my first game as a Detroit Red Wing tonight,” said Puempel, who will skate on a line with rookies Ryan Kuffner and Christoffer Ehn. “A lot of my buddies and family are excited.”

Puempel has posted back-to-back 20-goal seasons for the AHL Griffins. He was a 50-goal scorer in junior and a 30-goal scorer for Binghamton, his first AHL stop after being selected 24th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2011 NHL entry draft.

“Everyone in that locker room wants to be up here,” Puempel said of Grand Rapids. “You’ve gotta find the fine line, because everyone’s competing hard every night.

“For my personal success, just like I said, a lot of linemates and coaching over the last 5-6 years of pro hockey has definitely helped. And each step and each day makes you grow.”

He’s scored 10 goals in 79 NHL games with the Senators and New York Rangers, so this won’t be Puempel’s first big-league rodeo.

“You’re definitely still nervous,” Puempel said. “It’s still pro hockey. It’s still fun to be part of. You’re nervous to be back here in the NHL, but obviously exciting.

“Being not far from Detroit and never having played in Vegas before, there’s a lot of things going on. The atmosphere makes it that much more exciting. I’m really looking forward to the opportunity.”

Defensive Updates
Defensemen Libor Sulak (illness) remains out of action.

“Sulak will not play tonight,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashil said. “Today, he feels better but it’s the first day he’s felt better. He hasn’t skated, so he skated today but he won’t play.”

Jonathan Ericsson (sprained knee) has resumed skating and is close to a return to the lineup.

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