Monday, February 24, 2020

Good things to do after a kidney transplant: save an NHL game as an Emergency Backup Goalie (EBUG)

It turns out that in the NHL there is an Emergency Backup Goalie (EBUG) who is available to either team should the need arise. In this case, the Toronto EBUG saved the game for the visiting (opposing) team.

Emergency goalie completes journey from kidney transplant to NHL game
"Fifteen years ago, the aspiring NHL goalie had a kidney transplant with his mom Mary as his donor. His career was secondary. He was just glad to be alive.

"I never thought I'd play hockey again at that moment," Ayres said Saturday. "To go from that to what happened tonight is just unbelievable, unreal."

"Not only did Ayres play hockey Saturday, he was the winning goalie for the Carolina Hurricanes in a 6-3 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena."
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42-year-old pulled out of crowd to make NHL debut ... and wins game
"David Ayres was sitting in the stands with his wife at Scotiabank Arena when Carolina Hurricanes goalie James Reimer went down with an injury. Ayers, the on-call emergency netminder in Toronto, left his seat and got half dressed into his gear on the off-chance something might happen to Carolina’s second option, Petr Mrazek.
...
"The next thing the 42-year-old Zamboni driver knew, he was walking down the tunnel and into the spotlight. And not long after, he had an improbable first NHL win. He is the oldest goalie in NHL history to win his regular-season debut.
...
"Ayres has been the emergency goalie in Toronto for about half the games this season and is available to either team. “You kind of think, ‘Oh well how’s this gonna end up?’” said Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “That’s incredible. That’s why you do this.”

"Ayres was asked what he’ll remember most from the game. “These guys,” he said. “How great they were to me. The crowd in Toronto was unreal. Even though I was on the other team they were so receptive. Every time I made a save I could hear them cheering for me."


HT: Alex Chan

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