Game On Magazine - April 2017 GameOn-Apr2017-P001-144-ONLINE | Page 7

Presents Game On Magazine’s
Player of the Month for April
Reimer Heats Up to Give
Florida a Playoff Shot
By Carter Brooks
Photos by James Carey Lauder and Will Borys/mytoba.ca
ing, but I had great examples of good
parenting growing up; my parents were
great. They were calm, they were patient,
they were firm, but more than anything,
they loved me. So if I could be half as good
as they were, I think our child will be alright.”
From sliding around with his brother in his Black Ice street hock-
ey pads on the outdoor ice rink in Morweena, to starting games
in the NHL with the Panthers, it’s been quite a ride. For a kid who
didn’t start playing hockey until he was 12 years old, the always-
smiling netminder says he owes everything to his family, his wife,
his coaches and his God.
“Luckily for me I was raised in a Christian community by very lov-
Brand new father James Reimer has had himself one heck of a
February.
Maybe he was just running off of pure adrenaline from the birth
of his first child, daughter, Nevaeh Adelyn May on Jan. 31, or maybe
it was just something in the warm Florida air, Reimer has turned it
up for his Florida Panthers at the perfect time.
After signing a five-year, $17 million deal with Florida last spring,
the 6-foot-2, 210 pound goaltender had been used sparingly as a
backup to Olympic gold medalist Roberto Luongo. That is, until Feb-
ruary rolled around.
Reimer’s only loss in a six-game span from Jan. 26 to Feb. 21,
came on Feb. 9, at the hands of Jeff Carter and the Los Angeles
Kings. Since Dec. 5, Reimer has sported a 2.17 GAA and a .930 save
percentage.
Heading into March, it appears as though Reimer and Luongo will
duel for the starter’s gig in Florida, a team that’s just a few points
back of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins in the race for
the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.
Reimer, the 30-year-old from the tiny Interlake town of Morwee-
na, is taking this recent burst of success in stride.
“Well you know, I just hope I don’t screw up!” he said jokingly. “No,
being a father will be a lot of fun. I won’t really know what I am do-
ing parents who taught me how to do things the right way,” he said.
“I think it all starts with a good foundation, and obviously my wife
does a great job of staying steadfast in her faith, which really helps
me in the tough times too.”
Whatever it is that James Reimer is doing, it’s definitely working.
As Florida prepares to make its run at the playoffs, one thing is for
certain: Reimer and the Panthers will take every prayer they can
get. n
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2017 PLAYOFF EDITION
GAME ON 7