04/23/24
March 30, 2018
It's finally happened! Emergency back-up goalie (Blackhawks' Scott Foster) plays in an NHL game.:
The 36-year-old accountant comes into the game with 14 minutes left in the game. And he makes a big save!
Celebration at the end of the game.
posted by grum@work at 01:08 AM on March 30, 2018
First a 16 seed beats a 1 seed in the NCAA men's tournament. Now this. Wonder what's next in the unexpected historic firsts department.
posted by beaverboard at 06:14 AM on March 30, 2018
That's fantastic. I'm previewing the Disney movie in my head.
posted by rcade at 09:45 AM on March 30, 2018
Wow, how many years did he hang around to get 14 minutes of ice time?!
posted by billsaysthis at 10:48 AM on March 30, 2018
After his retirement from football, Doug Flutie was a legend in goal among the men's leagues based around suburban Boston. I think he probably could have taken the ice for a pro club if needed. Just a talented all around athlete.
posted by beaverboard at 12:14 PM on March 30, 2018
I'm previewing the Disney movie in my head.
Oh, is that the one where he gets lit up his first game in, consistently improves through a montage of training until he squeaks the 'Hawks into the playoffs, only to emerge with the Conn Smythe after stopping a penalty shot in overtime of game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals?
Or the Cianfrace version where he has his 14 minutes of shutout hockey end, only to find out that he has ass cancer and his wife has left him for a female basketball referee?
posted by tahoemoj at 01:55 PM on March 30, 2018
The first. Though the second sounds like a terrific date night movie.
posted by rcade at 03:21 PM on March 30, 2018
Not to nitpick, but he's not the first emergency backup to play.
From nhl.com:
Foster played 55 games for Western Michigan from 2002-06. He is the first emergency goaltender to play in an NHL game since Jorge Alves, an equipment manager for the Carolina Hurricanes, played eight seconds in a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 31, 2016.
I'm not sure you can celebrate 8 seconds of ice time like they did last night.
And, since teams now need to have an emergency goalie available for all games, I'm sure we're more likely to see this happen again in the future.
posted by jjohn24680 at 04:27 PM on March 30, 2018
Yeah, I didn't count the 8 second fun appearance:
With the Hurricanes losing 3-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Lightning having iced the puck at the end of the game, Hurricanes' coach Bill Peters put Alves in the net for the final seconds of the match.
This was a legitimate "must play" appearance.
Interesting notes I found out about his appearance:
1) He doesn't get paid for playing net. The Amateur Try Out (ATO) specifically says they cannot be remunerated for their appearance on the bench/ice by management. Of course, I'm pretty sure the Hawks players will chip in something for him (petty cash or signed items).
2) He's been in the rink as an emergency goalie quite a few times, but hadn't been required to get dressed. In fact, if the JETS goalies had gotten hurt, then Foster would have been THEIR emergency goalie. They sit in the stands just in case either team needs them.
posted by grum@work at 01:59 AM on March 31, 2018
I had to look this up, but I could remember it having happened. In January of 1956, Boston Bruins were scheduled to play in Montreal. Terry Sawchuck, the regular Boston goaltender was ill and couldn't play. The backup was Long John Henderson, but his size 13 skates did not make it to Montreal. The Montreal goaltender's coach, Claude Pronovost, younger brother of Marcel, was put into the Boston net, and he proceeded to pitch a 2-0 shutout for a Bruins win.
posted by Howard_T at 12:46 PM on March 31, 2018
Post game interview!