{"id":367815,"date":"2025-12-24T16:39:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T16:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/367815\/"},"modified":"2025-12-24T16:39:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T16:39:07","slug":"red-wings-delighted-by-holiday-hiatus-detroit-hockey-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/367815\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Wings Delighted By Holiday Hiatus \/ Detroit Hockey Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

Detroit<\/a> Red Wings forward James van Riemsdyk<\/a> will be spending Christmas in Minnesota.<\/p>\n

So will the Detroit Lions, albeit for much different reasons.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cDefinitely, I\u2019m going to cherish every second I can with them this year,\u201d van Riemsdyk said.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

We could watch this over and over again \u2764\ufe0f <\/p>\n

Christmas with Les Canadiens \ud83d\udc99 \u2764\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/GQdwjDtZlb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NHL Alumni (@NHLAlumni) December 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Thanks to the NHL\u2019s built-in holiday break, he\u2019ll get the chance to celebrate Christmas with his family in their home.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s obviously a really important thing for us, especially for someone like me this year when my family\u2019s not here with me,\u201d van Riemsdyk said.<\/p>\n

Red Wings Embrace NHL Holiday Hockey Hiatus<\/p>\n

The NHL hasn\u2019t scheduled a game on Christmas Eve since 1972. There hasn\u2019t been a game played on Christmas Day since 1971. The holiday break is part of the CBA between the league and the players.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the NBA plays games every Christmas Day. The NFL does likewise when the holidays fall within the league\u2019s schedule matrix.<\/p>\n

Lions offensive lineman Penei Sewell<\/a> recently expressed his displeasure over the team being slotted to play on Christmas.<\/p>\n

The Red Wings are happy that the only thing on their plate come Christmas Day will be a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think with a tradition like that, it means a lot to the guys,\u201d Detroit captain Dylan Larkin<\/a> said of the NHL\u2019s Christmas break. \u201cAnd it means a lot to me.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy first Christmas with my daughter, something that I\u2019ll always remember, and I\u2019m so excited for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo it\u2019s a special time of year. It\u2019s going to be even more special this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

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<\/a> #NYR<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/u5qYYODFnl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mike Commito (@mikecommito) December 24, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n

Even the coaching staff will be taking some downtime during the holiday season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI drive down with Yawns (assistant coach Trent Yawney) all the time and picked him up (Tuesday) morning,\u201d Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. \u201cAnd we get tired, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike, I know we don\u2019t 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\u2019t wait until (Wednesday) and not open up my computer, not even think about or talk about hockey.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will spend my wife, and we\u2019ll spend a couple of days together, just the two of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the gridiron and on the hardwood, the mantra is ho, ho, hold that turkey. There are games to be played.<\/p>\n

On the ice, they just say Noel.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a beautiful thing.<\/p>\n

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