THE UNH MEN'S HOCKEY BLOG: UNH Freshman Brendan van Riemsdyk: Consistent High Scorer

Brendan van Riemsdyk
UNH Forward #7

Background

Like his brothers James (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Trevor (Chicago Blackhawks), Brendan van Riemsdyk was a high-school star at Christian Brothers Academy near their hometown of Middletown, New Jersey. As a senior captain of the 2013-14 CBA Colts, BvR scored 19 goals and 22 assists in 15 games and helped the team become co-champions of New Jersey High School Hockey.

In the 2014-15 season, Brendan van Riemsdyk began his junior hockey career and solidified his reputation as a top goal scorer. BvR finished the Islanders Hockey Club's regular season with 29 goals in 47 games. He tied for 4th in goal-scoring in the USPHL Premiere Division. This past season, van Riemsdyk established his play-making bona fides. During the 2015-16 regular season, he more than doubled his assists from 12 in 2014-15 to 27 this season. The left-shot forward also increased his power play assists from 5 to 11.

Overall, BvR tied for 9th in USPHL scoring last season (47 pts), tied for 5th in goals (20), and tied for 11th in assists (27). He was also a top performer on the power play. BvR tied for 1st in USPHL power play goals (8), tied for 3rd in power play assists (11), and was second in total power play points (19). During the Islanders Hockey Clubs' playoff run, van Riemsdyk posted a goal and 5 assists in the 6 games, good enough for a tie for 3rd in assists among all USPHL playoff players and a tie for 4th in scoring. The IHC advanced to the USPHL championship series but lost to the Jersey Hitmen in a two-game sweep.

Brendan van Riemsdyk is listed at 6'3", 200 lbs. By comparison, when brother James was a freshman at UNH, he was 6'3", 190 lbs. and brother Trevor was 6'2", 185 lbs. as a freshman. BvR primarily played left wing during the last two seasons with the Islanders Hockey Club. In terms of size and skating style, Brendan is more similar to James (left-shot winger) than Trevor (right-shot defenseman). Brendan is 20 years old and will turn 21 in January.

Brendan van Riemsdyk
Last Team: Islanders Hockey Club
United States Premiere Hockey League
DOB: 1-28-1996 Hometown: Middletown, New Jersey
Forward, 6'3", 200 lbs. Shoots Left
Commit to UNH: 11-17-2012 at Age 16 years, 10 months.
Signed National Letter of Intent: 11-13-2015

Coach's Assessment

During his two seasons in the USPHL, Brendan van Riemsdyk was coached by Sean Tremblay, General Manager and Head Coach of the Islanders Hockey Club. Coach Tremblay is credited with encouraging Brendan's older brother Trevor to pursue a Division I scholarship by playing for him on the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs in the old Eastern Junior Hockey League. TvR eventually accepted an offer to play at UNH, became an All-American, and helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the 2015 Stanley Cup.

Midway through last season, Coach Tremblay offered this appraisal of Brendan's skills and future prospects:

"The whole (van Riemsdyk) family has a tremendous set of hands. They should get Lloyd’s of London to insure their hands, and their IQ. All three of them have a great understanding of what they need to do to get better. Every day, Brendan’s working on his speed and quickness. Based on how hard he works and how bad he wants it, I strongly feel Brendan will be the third van Riemsdyk to play in the NHL. He is going to be a really big-time free agent when he’s at UNH. You don’t live for that one [draft] day. The NHL Draft is a great thing, but it’s not that one day that matters, it’s every day that matters, and the van Riemsdyks get that. I see Brendan going to UNH and, with the summer he had and the summer he’s going to have, and with his hands and IQ, I see him getting that [pro] opportunity.”

Scouting Report from Neutral Zone**

"Brendan is big and has strong hands that allow him to score at a consistently high level. His skating is improving but still needs work. The USPHL all-star and UNH recruit can take over shifts and is becoming more consistent. He may have the most upside of anyone in the (USPHL) league."

Rating - 3 & 3/4 Stars out of 5 Stars.

National Ranking - Among the top 72, 1996-born forwards evaluated by Neutral Zone Scouts, Brendan van Riemsdyk was ranked #70.

According to neutralzone.net, their national rankings break players down into birth years and ranks them against all other college hockey prospects throughout North America. Nationally ranked players have been seen by their Neutral Zone regional scout and then cross-referenced with a national Neutral Zone scout as well. Then the players are graded on over 20 different categories and put into the national database where they are tracked throughout the season. Every player on this list has been seen by multiple scouts in multiple viewings to arrive at their final rank.

** Reprinted by permission of Brendan Collins, Director of Scouting at Neutral Zone.

USPHL Achievements

~ 2015 USPHL Premiere Division Rookie of the Year.
~ 2015 and 2016 USPHL All-Star.

USPHL Highlight Reel

Junior & Prep School Statistics

Player	Season	Team	League	GP	Goals	Asst	Pts	PIM
Brendan van Riemsdyk (F)	2015-16	Islanders Hockey Club	USPHL Prem	43	20	27	47	50
		Playoffs	USPHL Prem	6	1	5	6	4
	2014-15	Islanders Hockey Club	USPHL Prem	47	29	12	41	54
		Playoffs	USPHL Prem	4	2	1	3	14
	2013-14	Jersey Hitmen 18U	USPHL 18U	10	5	8	13	2
		Playoffs	USPHL 18U	3	0	1	1	12
		Christian Brothers Acad	NJ Prep	15	19	22	41	-