In case you missed it yesterday, forward James van Riemsdyk signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Boston Bruins after spending the last five seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers.
In total, JVR spent eight seasons with Philadelphia across two separate stints, still the most years he’s played with a team and it will likely stay that way until he retires.
He racked up 146 goals and 151 assists for 297 points in 527 games while donning the Orange and Black.
Even despite the six-year stretch he played in Toronto, van Riemsdyk was someone I always grew up looking up to. He made his NHL debut when I was 10, and he was traded when I was 13.
Seeing him go the first time hurt a lot.
I would follow the Maple Leafs when the Flyers weren’t playing just to see how he was doing. Watching his goal highlights or watching entire Maple Leafs games just to catch JVR for his shifts became a frequent occurrence for me.
When he came back in the summer of 2018, I was pumped. I got his new orange #25 jersey and I couldn’t wait to see him play in Philadelphia again.
Now, I know you’re probably thinking, “why does a player like James van Riemsdyk mean that much to you?”
I’ll tell you exactly why.
I have autism. I was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, or what’s commonly now known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, when I was 5 years old.
Part of it for me came with being absolutely fixated on certain things to an extent that not many people can understand. Another part of it for me was isolating yourself from others, sometimes accidentally and sometimes on purpose.
My parents had to pay closer attention to me as I was growing up and were learning about me and my condition at the same pace I was. It was confusing and frustrating, but 19 years after my diagnosis, I’m chugging along pretty comfortably. But it wasn’t always super easy. During my years in school, things got really hard sometimes. Academically, I excelled in certain subjects while I struggled constantly at others. Socially, I felt outcasted a lot, and no one really knew about me or what I was going through either.
Sports have always been a primary focus of mine. Growing up I played basketball, lacrosse, and wrestled, and I’d always doodle in my notebooks about auto racing and basketball when no one was looking, but hockey has been my favorite sport for as long as I can remember.
I was born into being a Flyers fan, and I can’t imagine life any other way. The Flyers, and hockey in general, have served as my outlet to get away from the obstacles I face with my autism. Whether that’s writing about them, talking about them with my friends and colleagues, or watching them on television or live at Wells Fargo Center, the Philadelphia Flyers – for better or worse – are my life at this point.
Much as my life has been affected by autism, so has James van Riemsdyk’s.
For those that don’t know, van Riemsdyk has two cousins that also have Autism Spectrum Disorder, and he has been heavily involved in advocating for people with autism for years now.
van Riemsdyk has been involved with Autism Speaks since his first stint with the Flyers in 2010, and he also welcomed 300 guests from the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support at St. Joseph’s University with a video message at the Flyers’ Autism Awareness Night during the 2021-22 season against the Maple Leafs, among the other things he has done for the community.
The Middletown, New Jersey native also worked with the Wells Fargo Center in setting up their Sensory Room, which is a room specifically designed for guests with sensory-friendly needs that includes family-friendly games, headphones, beanbag chairs, coloring books, and more.
On top of his advocacy for people with autism, van Riemsdyk has also voiced support for the LGBTQ+ community. He has hosted fans at games and he and Scott Laughton have helped start new initiatives for the LGBTQ+ community in Philadelphia. Before rejoining the Flyers, van Riemsdyk also served as the Maple Leafs’ LGBTQ ambassador for You Can Play and Hockey is for Everyone.
As someone with friends and family who are a part of that community, that personally touched me to see him be a strong advocate and even stronger ally.
On the ice, James van Riemsdyk is a good player who gave it his all for Philadelphia. Off the ice, he is an even greater person who has used his voice and his platform for the benefit of the community and the people around him. The Bruins and the city of Boston are lucky to have him and I guarantee they’ll love him immediately.
James van Riemsdyk didn’t just give me and other fans from different groups his support, but he gave us a voice and showed that we belong in hockey too.
Thank you, James van Riemsdyk, for everything.
2024 Stadium Series Trip
Flyers Nation and Philly Sports Trips have teamed up to bring you on an amazing bus trip to the 2024 NHL Stadium Series between the Flyers and Devils. Place an early deposit to reserve your spot at the ultimate tailgate experience at MetLife Stadium before the game. The package includes a game ticket, round-trip charter bus, an all-inclusive tailgate party with unlimited cold beverages, “Philly Style” catered food, live entertainment, and more.
