Red Wings' James van Riemsdyk arrives at game dressed as Batman for son's birthday
The veteran, who is out of town for a huge divisional clash in Montreal, found a way to celebrate his son Liam's fourth birthday from afar.
The NHL is in its first year of a relaxed dress code, and players are taking advantage. We know this.
But Red Wings forward James van Riemsdyk took that to previously unseen territory Saturday, arriving at Detroit’s game in Montreal dressed as Batman in celebration of his son Liam’s fourth birthday.
I. Am. B̶a̶t̶m̶a̶n̶.̶ James van Riemsdyk.
Happy birthday, Liam
pic.twitter.com/7b7o22RhcA
— FanDuel Sports Network Detroit (@FanDuelSN_DET) January 11, 2026
The Red Wings’ TV broadcast partner, FanDuel Sports Network, explained that Liam is a Batman fan, and with his dad out of town for a huge divisional clash, van Riemsdyk still found a way to celebrate from afar.
“Happy Birthday, Liam! I miss you so much! Love you, buddy,” van Riemsdyk said before walking into the Bell Centre.
Van Riemsdyk, a 17th-year NHL veteran who signed a one-year deal with the Red Wings this past offseason, has been red hot of late, with nine points in his last eight games entering Saturday. He had two highlight-reel assists in Detroit’s Thursday win over the Canucks and was up to 11 goals and 17 points in 36 games entering the divisional clash.
“Confidence is everything, and you can see he’s playing with a lot of it right now,” teammate Andrew Copp said Friday. “The two passes (Thursday) were unreal, and he’s just got a knack for the net. It’s kind of unlike anything I’ve ever seen, just how good he is around the net.”
Van Riemsdyk picked up another assist on Detroit’s first goal of the game Saturday, rimming in a puck that went off a stanchion and right to Lucas Raymond, with Canadiens goalie Jacob Fowler out of the net, to give Detroit a 1-0 lead in the second period.
So, maybe the costume had some magic in it.
Then again, we know how Batman feels about hockey pads.