In my criteria for being
an NHL backup goalie one has to:
1. Sign an NHL contract (amateur, tryout or pro)
2. Be dressed and ready to play
3. Be on sitting on the bench, game ready
There are goaltenders that
have gotten close but have not satisfied every criterion. This is a list of
those goalies, which were close to the NHL but not close enough to be
classified as an NHL backup.
Brett Willows
October 17, 2013 The
Toronto Maple Leafs were playing the Carolina Hurricanes. Early into game James
Reimer was injured and had to leave. Backup goalie Jonathan Bernier took over
his spot in net but the Leafs were sent looking for a new substitute goalie
incase anything happened to Bernier. The Leafs called the University of Toronto
and were directed to their third string netminder, Brett Willows. Ironically,
Willows is a Canadiens fan and was sporting a Habs ball cap when the Leafs
called. He still happily answered Toronto's request. "At that point I
blacked out," said Willows. "It all seemed not real. We were mostly
laughing in the truck (on the way to the rink). It was still relatively early
in the game. What if something happened to Bernier and I got thrown in
there?" When it was determined that James Reimer couldn't return to the
bench as the backup Willows was directed to put on his gear, including a brand
new Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, #82 with his name no the back. Willows signed
and emergency tryout contract but it wasn't filed with the league so he
couldn't sit on the bench as the official backup. Had Bernier been injured,
however, they would have formalized the deal and Willows would have played.
"I wasn't expecting any of this to happen," said Willows. "When
Twitter was blowing up and all the texts were coming in, my phone only had a 15
per-cent charge on it, so it died really quick. I couldn't phone my parents.
Hopefully they don't hold it against me." (1) (2)
Santino Vasquez
December
17, 2015 the New York Rangers lost goalie Antti Raanta to injury early into a
game against the Minnesota Wild. Henrik Lundqvist, who was suppose to have the
night off, played the rest of the game but the Rangers wanted some insurance
incase Lundqvist got injured. Santino Vasquez was the local emergency goalie in
Minnesota so the Rangers gave him a call. "I
grabbed my chest protector and helmet off the radiator, stuffed them in my bag,
threw on one of my suits, tossed my bag in the trunk of my car and hit the
road." said Vasquez. "I only live about two miles over the bridge
from the Xcel Center, so it was maybe 10 or 12 minutes before I was pulling
into the players’ parking lot. The valet guys— Rick and Joe — are buddies of
mine. We used to play softball together. So when Rick and Joe saw me, they
immediately started giving me crap, like, 'What are you doing
here?,'" laughed Vasquez. "Just across from the visitors locker
room at the Xcel Center, there’s a small utility locker room. That’s where they
took me. Inside, there was a TV. The game was on. They were two minutes into
the second period when I got there. Hank was in net. A guy poked his head into
the room and said, “Could you get your stuff on, just in case?” So I got my
bottoms on and went through my normal pregame stretches. I didn’t know what was
going to happen next — if I was going to the Rangers bench or not, if I was going
to get on the ice or not." Vasquez was a minor celebrity when the
Twitter world got hold of his situation. On top of the story, he took home a
Rangers jersey with his name on the back and the usual $500 paid to
emergency goalies. "I packed my stuff up and put on my suit, and when the
game ended, a few of the guys come off the ice and into the locker
room to stretch out," said Vasquez. "They thanked me again for
coming, and I wished them luck at their next game in Winnipeg. I walked out to
the parking lot and told Rick and Joe how it all went down." (3)
Scott McKay

Ian Clark
December 23, 2013 Columbus
Blue Jackets goalie Curtis McElhinney was injured during the pre-game warmups.
Backup Mike McKenna played that days contest against the Carolina Hurricanes
but McElhinney wouldn't have been able to take over if McKenna were to get
injured. Clark, the Blue Jackets goalie coach, was signed to a player tryout
agreement as insurance. Columbus ended up winning the game 4-3 with McKenna
playing the whole game and McElhinney not having to move from his post as the
injured backup. Although Clark ultimately wasn't needed, the Blue Jackets
thanked him by having the contract framed for him. (5)
Troy Passingham
March 22, 2011 Troy Passingham was relaxing at his girlfriend's home in Windsor, Ontario when he received a phone call from the Detroit Red Wings. Passingham had just finished his last season of junior hockey in the OHL and was contemplating his hockey future, which didn't point anywhere near the big leagues. Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings were a goalie short with Chris Osgood injured. There was concern that Joey MacDonald, who was recalled, wouldn't make the next day's game against the Vancouver Canucks. As a precaution, the Red Wings phoned Troy Passingham, who practiced with the Red Wings on game day but ultimately wasn't needed as MacDonald made it in time. "Obviously there was a lot of excitement and it was a really long day. You get butterflies, that that's hockey. You've just got to be ready. Maybe, I'll be sitting on the bench. Maybe I'll read a book," said Passingham. (14) The Red Wings were ready to sign Passingham to a 24-hour amateur contract if MacDonald hadn't of made it in time for the game.
While at Ryerson University in Ontario, Passingham actually got his second and third brief taste of the NHL when he was asked to practice with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014 and 2015. Both times he filled in for Jonathan Bernier.
Troy Passingham
March 22, 2011 Troy Passingham was relaxing at his girlfriend's home in Windsor, Ontario when he received a phone call from the Detroit Red Wings. Passingham had just finished his last season of junior hockey in the OHL and was contemplating his hockey future, which didn't point anywhere near the big leagues. Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings were a goalie short with Chris Osgood injured. There was concern that Joey MacDonald, who was recalled, wouldn't make the next day's game against the Vancouver Canucks. As a precaution, the Red Wings phoned Troy Passingham, who practiced with the Red Wings on game day but ultimately wasn't needed as MacDonald made it in time. "Obviously there was a lot of excitement and it was a really long day. You get butterflies, that that's hockey. You've just got to be ready. Maybe, I'll be sitting on the bench. Maybe I'll read a book," said Passingham. (14) The Red Wings were ready to sign Passingham to a 24-hour amateur contract if MacDonald hadn't of made it in time for the game.
While at Ryerson University in Ontario, Passingham actually got his second and third brief taste of the NHL when he was asked to practice with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014 and 2015. Both times he filled in for Jonathan Bernier.
Paul Deutsch
November 23, 2011 the
Minnesota Wild were facing off against the Nashville Predators. Early that day
Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom left the team to be with his wife as she gave
birth to the couple's first child. The Wild were left with a single goalie,
Josh Harding, for that night's game. Minnesota recalled AHL goalie Matt Hackett
from their affiliate in Houston but with Thanksgiving time travel, the Wild
weren't sure if Hackett would make it to the arena in time for the game. Enter
old local goaltender Paul Deutsch, who was friends with Wild goalie coach Bob
Mason. Wearing jeans, a hoodie and steel toe work boots, the 51 year old was an
usual sight entering the Wild dressing room. "Here they were valet parking
my minivan," joked Deutsch. "There is a Range Rover in front of me
and an Audi behind me and here I've got my four-cylinder minivan with the
company logo on the side. The valet guys were dying laughing." Wild GM
Chuck Fletcher had Deutsch sign an amateur contract and Deutsch was given a
Wild jersey #33 with his name on the back. As game time drew near there was
still no sign of Hackett so Deutsch dressed and took part in the pre-game warmup.
Unfortunately for Deutsch, Hackett made it just in time for the first period
and Deutsch watched the game from the press box. He was still given $500, got
to keep his jersey and the Wild framed his contract. (6)
Pavel Nestak
January 5, 1999 a rash of
injuries forced the Calgary Flames to call in an unknown Czech goalie by the
name of Pavel Nestak from the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL. Calgary had
recalled a more experienced goalie in Igor Karpenko from the AHL but they
weren't sure if he'd arrive in time for the game. Karpenko was in Saint John,
New Brunswick while Nestak was only an hour drive from Pittsburgh, where the
Flames were playing the Penguins. Nestak was initially refused entry to the
Flames dressing room because nobody knew who he was. Things didn't get much
better for the nervous Nestak from there. Assistant coach Rick Preston took him
into the dressing to introduce Nestak to the team. "Guys," said
Preston, "I'd like you to meet our new goaltender...." Preston
stopped, turned to Nestak and asked, "Uh, sorry, but what did you say your
name was again?" Nestak wore #34, took the warmup, but retreated to the
dressing for the rest of the game after Igor Karpenko arrived in time for the
first period. (7)
Floyd Whitney
Dec 21, 1999 Floyd Whitney
nearly made NHL history as the league's oldest rookie. A local police officer
and father of NHL great Ray Whitney, Floyd Whitney was known to the Oilers
because of the many years he had spent as practice goalie with the team. In
1987 and 1988 he was even awarded a Stanley Cup ring by the Oilers to show
appreciating for Whitney's work as their practice goalie. At 46, he was about
the get the best call of them all from the NHL team. In a game against the
Washington Capitals the Oilers lost Bill Ranford to a foot injury during the
first period. With only Tommy Salo left to tend goal, and Ranford unable to
enter back into the game, the Oilers wanted extra insurance. They called up
Whitney, who was in the middle of a little paperwork down the road at his
police station. They prepared a contract for Whitney, who didn't sign but would
have if Salo was injured. "The Oilers chose not to put Floyd on the bench
in fear of the Capitals feeling the team was rubbing in what was a
blowout." Whitney put on his goalie gear and watched the last two periods
from the dressing room, sporting a new Edmonton Oilers #45 jersey with his name
on the back. With just over a minute left in the game Whitney, watching
nervously from the dressing room, saw what almost made him the most famous
person in Edmonton. Salo went down in a heap, pulling his groin. In discomfort,
Salo still managed to play the last bit of the game, not knowing if Whitney was
even allowed to relieve him. "He said that if he had known I could have
gone in, he would have definitely come out," said Whitney. "When it
happened though, I was kind of hopeful. Actually at first when he was down, I
thought they were just messing with me." Even though he didn't get to
finish the game in net, it was the experience of a lifetime for Whitney.
"I was in the game. I was dressed, ready to go. The only thing was I
wasn't on the bench. I would have liked to have been on the bench. But it was
just an awesome, great night. You know I raced in, I raced to get dressed, I
was in the locker room. Afterwards is when it really settled in."
It would have been
Whitney's second time as an emergency goalie had he not been watching his son
play a junior game out of town in Spokane on February 14, 1990. The Oilers were
in a very similar situation and Whitney was their first call. Instead, John
Garrett got to fill in. (8)
Paul Wieland - February 13, 1977 the Buffalo Sabres, without injured goalie Gerry Desjardins, recalled rookie Don Edwards, who had yet to play in the NHL. In a surprise move, GM Punch Imlach ordered Sabres coach Floyd Smith, an hour before game-time, to start Edwards instead of veteran goalie Al Smith. Smith was furious with the decision. He waited until just before the game was about to begin, after the anthem had finished, to skate in front of Sabres' owner Seymour Knox seat. He saluted Knox, wished him a cheeky goodbye and left the ice surface, never to play for the Sabres again. Buffalo was left without a backup. Paul Wieland was the Sabres' Public Relations guy and occasionally practiced with the team. The Sabres attempted to sign and dress Wieland as their emergency second goalie. Unfortunately for Wieland, and the Sabres, it was too late to submit his name to the lineup card and Edwards was forced to play his very first NHL game without a backup. (9)
Mike R. Brown
The Bruins AHL farm team
in Providence needed a goalie for an afternoon game when starter Hannu Toivonen
was injured in practice. There wasn't enough time to fly in the usual call-up,
Mike Brown, from the ECHL. The Bruins thus sent their NHL backup, Brian Finley,
to Providence for a game. In order to comply with CBA rules, the Bruins, even
though unscheduled to play, recalled Brown to their NHL club for a day as a
warm body. He was an official member of the Boston Bruins roster from November
12 to 13th, 2006. What makes Brown's stay with the Bruins notable is that he
got an NHL rookie card for his short time with the Bruins. Under the rules
negotiated by the NHLPA and the hockey card distributors, a player has to play
in an NHL game to get a rookie card while a goalie just has to dress as a
backup. Upper Deck evidently had their statistics wrong and issued an NHL
hockey card for Brown when legally, he was not able to have one.
Connor Beaupre
December 12, 2017 Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk suffered a lower body injury in the opening period of a game against the Calgary Flames. Alex Stalock took his place in net and Connor Beaupre was called to put on pads and replace Stalock as the Wild's backup goalie. Beaupre, the son of former NHL goalie Don Beaupre, was on hand as one of the team's official emergency goalies. He had played high school hockey at Edina High School and then club hockey at the University of Denver. Beaupre put on half of his gear and spent the second and third periods in the tunnel next to the dressing room. Beaupre gets an 'honourable mention' because he did not sign an amateur tryout and stayed in the tunnel, out of view. The Wild had a No. 30 sweater with his name on it ready to go, but Beaupre never got the chance to put in on.
Kenny Cameron
March 9, 2019 the Edmonton Oilers were facing the Toronto Maple Leafs and Kenny Cameron was on hand as one of the team's backup goalies, a duty he frequently did. Mikko Koskinen was listed on the game program as Edmonton's backup and Anthony Stolarz played the whole game but had Stolarz gotten injured, Cameron may have been summoned. Koskinen was not feeling well. "He's in the building, but Stolarz is going to be the starting goalie," said Oilers coach Ken Hitchcock. "The emergency backup's in the building, too. So if we run into a problem we've got two guys who in the lounge now." (10)
Connor Beaupre

Kenny Cameron


December 15, 2018 the Vancouver Canucks were hosting the Philadelphia Flyers. During the first period, Flyers goalie Anthony Stolarz was injured and left the game. Alex Lyon took his place in net and Canucks house backup Rylan Toth was called in to act as the emergency backup in case anything happened to Lyon. Toth spent the rest of the game wearing his pads, hidden in the dressing room. “They gave me a stick and once I got back from Christmas break, there was a jersey in my stall. So they had actually made up a jersey and it had my name on it,” Toth said. (11)
Tyler Stewart

Todd Scarola
April 28, 2019 the Carolina Hurricanes lost goalie Petr Mrazek during the second period of a game against the New York Islanders. Curtis McElhinney took Mrazek's place and Todd Scarola was asked to dress as the new backup. He put on his gear and waited in the dressing room, but was not needed. The 27 year old Scarola had last played hockey for Stony Brook University.
Dan Dunn

Byron Spriggs

Steve Jakiel

Bailey Seagraves
December 5, 2019 the New York Rangers were in Columbus playing the Blue Jackets. Henrik
Lundqvist had the flu and although he's listed on the official game summary as New York's backup, he was not prepared to play. Alexandar Georgiev played the whole game for the Rangers and Bailey Seagraves, the house backup for Columbus, was asked to put on his gear and get ready should anything happen to Georgiev. Seagraves did not sign with the Rangers or sit on the team's bench.


January 24, 2018 the Dallas Stars were hosting the Florida Panthers. Early into the first period, Florida goalie Jason Reimer left the game with an injury. Harri Sateri finished the game for Florida but Dallas house emergency backup goalie Thomas Hodges was summoned to dress as Florida's new backup. Florida had a no. 31 jersey ready for him and Hodges spent the rest of the game in the tunnel with his gear on. "It was good," said Hodges. "I think the people around me were more nervous than I was." Hodges had dressed a number of times as an emergency backup in the ECHL as a house backup with the Allen Americans. (15)
Josh Block
November 27, 2019 the Detroit Red Wings were facing the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jonathan Bernier was schedule to start for the Red Wings. Feeling unwell, Bernier took the night off and Jimmy Howard started instead. Unfortunately for Bernier, Howard was injured during the game. The game had to be briefly stopped in order to allow Berner, who had not anticipated on playing, to get ready. Meanwhile, Detroit house emergency backup goalie Josh Block was told to get on his gear. “There’s a reason why they’re called emergency," said Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill. "Josh is a great guy, works hard, but it’s not right. That’s not the spirit of the game. I wasn’t going to take Bernie out unless he told me he couldn’t — I mean, Bernie is the one that knows how he feels better than me." (16)
Alex Bjerk


Chris Venti
January 23, 2018 the Boston Bruins hosted the New Jersey Devils. During the game, New Jersey lost goalie Corey Schneider to injury. He was replaced by Ken Appleby, who finished the game. For insurance, the Devils summoned Bruins house emergency backup Chris Venti to dress. Venti was given a Devils jersey and spent the remainder of the game in a back room in full gear. “I did know it could potentially happen,” Venti said, “but I never thought in a million years it would.” (18)
Trevor Hanger

Garret Bodington
October 20, 2017 the Vegas Golden Knights were in New York playing the Islanders when starting goalie Oscar Dansk was forced to leave with an injury. Maxime Lagace was sent into the crease and New York's house emergency backup, Garret Bodington, was summoned by the Golden Knights. Bodington got dressed, complete with a Golden Knights jersey, but wasn't needed. “It’s happened a couple of times,” said Bodington. “I stay in the locker room, the coaches’ locker room, and you’re nervous. Earlier this year, I was nervous. But I think you’ve probably played over this game in your head a thousand times, so if you ever get that chance to go in, you get good defense out in front of you and you keep the shots kind of outside.” (20)

Andrew Margolin
February 9, 2018 the New York Rangers lost goalie Ondrej Pavelec in a game against the Calgary Flames. Henrik Lundqvist took over in the crease and Andrew Margolin was summoned to dress in case of another injury. Margolin got dressed and the Rangers equipment team, familiar with Margolin as New York's house backup, decided to have a little fun and gave him a "McBackup" no. 69 New York Rangers jersey. He didn't end up leaving the back room for the duration of the game. Margolin had last played with Connecticut College in 2012.

November 26, 2017 the San Jose Sharks were hosting the Winnipeg Jets. Mid-way through the game, the Jets lost goalie Steve Mason to an injury. Connor Hellebuyck finished the game for Winnipeg but Martin Moody was summoned to get dressed for the remainder of the second and the third period of the NHL game. Moody was San Jose's house emergency backup. He was given a no. 30 Jets jersey with his name on it and was allowed to watch some of the game from the tunnel. “There isn’t really nerves when you’re not yet on the ice, but I’m sure they would come if I were ever formally called upon,” Moody said. (21)

Nick Barnett
March 28, 2018 the Colorado Avalanche hosted the Philadelphia Flyers. Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth left the game during the second period with an injury. Petr Mrazek replaced Neuvirth and finished the game, but Colorado's emergency backup, Nick Barnett, was asked to dress in case anything should happen to Mrazek. Barnett spent the remainder of the game with his pads on but was not needed. Barnett is a Denver native who had played high level junior hockey.
Colin Cooper
December 12, 2018 the Philadelphia Flyers were in Calgary to play the Flames. Mike Smith played
the first two periods for the Flames but feeling unwell, he left for the final period. David Rittich took over for Smith and the Flames, realizing Smith was done for night, called in Cooper to act as the new backup for the third period.

February 2, 2020 the Edmonton Oilers were in town to face the Calgary Flames. In a rare occurrence, the game featured a goalie fight. Calgary's Cam Talbot squared off with Edmonton's Mike Smith. Both goalies were kicked out for fighting and replaced by backups David Rittich and Mikko Koskinen. Calgary's resident emergency goalie, Colin Cooper, was rushed down from the stands to dress as the new backup - for both teams. He spent the remainder of the game waiting nervously in the Fames video room. “It’s a wild feeling because it starts hitting you — ‘I could be in this game if something goes wrong,'" Cooper said. (22)
(1) Luke Fox. "Leafs' emergency backup Willows a Habs
fan." Sportsnet. Oct. 18, 2013.
(2) Kevin McGran.
"Maple Leafs let U of T goalie Brett Willows' dream come true."
Toronto Star. Oct. 18, 2013.
(3) Santino Vasquez. "Help, Is There a Goalie in the
House." The Players Tribune. Dec. 21, 2015.
(4) Cynthia Reason.
"Hockey fantasy comes true for Toronto man," Etobicoke Guardian,
April 3, 2012.
(5) Aaron Portzline.
"Blue Jackets Notebook: Plan in place in case of goalie injuries in same
game." March 5, 2015.
(6) Johnette Howard. "Paul Deutsch: rags to riches to rags,"
ESPN. Dec. 1, 2011.
(7) George Johnson. Calgary Herald, Oct. 26, 2002.
(8) Michael Russo. Sun
Sentinel. January 2, 2000.
(9) Sal Maiorana. 100 Things Sabres Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die. Triumph Books, 2012.
(10) https://www.pressreader.com/canada/toronto-star/20190310/282394105763145
(11) https://www.ubyssey.ca/sports/rylan-toth-philly-flyers/
(12) https://calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/nhl/calgary-flames/flames-emergency-goalies-know-their-place/
(13) https://globalnews.ca/news/6588829/winnipeg-emergency-backup-goalie
(14)https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/bailey-seagraves-blue-jackets-emergency-backup-goalie/c-315613712
(15)https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/stars/2018/01/24/stars-notebook-nhl-s-emergency-goalie-plan-put-into-effect-after-injury-to-panthers-james-reimer/
(16)https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2019/11/27/detroit-red-wings-injury-news/4324617002/
(17)https://www.postbulletin.com/sports/high_school/hockey/from-the-nhl-to-kasson-former-ice-hawk-bjerk-happy/article_25cf04fc-2481-11ea-a1a1-a7553e593df7.html
(18)https://www.bcinterruption.com/2018/1/24/16930068/chris-venti-boston-college-eagles-hockey-emergency-goalie-boston-bruins-new-jersey-devils-schneider
(19)https://www.wusa9.com/article/sports/meet-trevor-hanger-the-42-year-old-emergency-backup-goalie-for-the-capitals/65-c6206bd5-c78d-4e66-b16c-5a374416239f
(20)https://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/golf-club-superintendent-is-also-the-islanders-emergency-backup-goaltender-1.17787608?_ga=2.56969066.1328840141.1585542228-751736990.1585542228
(21)https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/sharks/how-sharks-emergency-goalie-martin-moody-prepares-play-if-needed
(22)https://calgarysun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/calgary-flames/next-in-net-emergency-goalie-was-on-standby-for-both-sides-in-battle-of-alberta
(11) https://www.ubyssey.ca/sports/rylan-toth-philly-flyers/
(12) https://calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/nhl/calgary-flames/flames-emergency-goalies-know-their-place/
(13) https://globalnews.ca/news/6588829/winnipeg-emergency-backup-goalie
(14)https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/bailey-seagraves-blue-jackets-emergency-backup-goalie/c-315613712
(15)https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/stars/2018/01/24/stars-notebook-nhl-s-emergency-goalie-plan-put-into-effect-after-injury-to-panthers-james-reimer/
(16)https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2019/11/27/detroit-red-wings-injury-news/4324617002/
(17)https://www.postbulletin.com/sports/high_school/hockey/from-the-nhl-to-kasson-former-ice-hawk-bjerk-happy/article_25cf04fc-2481-11ea-a1a1-a7553e593df7.html
(18)https://www.bcinterruption.com/2018/1/24/16930068/chris-venti-boston-college-eagles-hockey-emergency-goalie-boston-bruins-new-jersey-devils-schneider
(19)https://www.wusa9.com/article/sports/meet-trevor-hanger-the-42-year-old-emergency-backup-goalie-for-the-capitals/65-c6206bd5-c78d-4e66-b16c-5a374416239f
(20)https://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/golf-club-superintendent-is-also-the-islanders-emergency-backup-goaltender-1.17787608?_ga=2.56969066.1328840141.1585542228-751736990.1585542228
(21)https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/sharks/how-sharks-emergency-goalie-martin-moody-prepares-play-if-needed
(22)https://calgarysun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/calgary-flames/next-in-net-emergency-goalie-was-on-standby-for-both-sides-in-battle-of-alberta
No comments:
Post a Comment