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NHL: Emergency backup goalies aren’t an embarrassment

By Ant Barberio

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 25: Dave Ayres sounds the warning siren during the game between the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes at at PNC Arena on February 25, 2020 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ayres, in emergency relief, recorded eight saves, the win and first-star honors in his National Hockey League debut with the Carolina Hurricanes in their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 22. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 25: Dave Ayres sounds the warning siren during the game between the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes at at PNC Arena on February 25, 2020 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ayres, in emergency relief, recorded eight saves, the win and first-star honors in his National Hockey League debut with the Carolina Hurricanes in their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 22. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Most people in the NHL universe, but not everyone, were happy with Dave Ayres earning a win as an emergency backup goalie for the Carolina Hurricanes. It’s a rare, but fun, occurrence.

Dave Ayres is having the best week of his life right now. First, he led the Carolina Hurricanes to victory, the first time an emergency backup goalie has ever been credited with a win in NHL history.

Then he made the media rounds and received nothing short of a hero’s welcome in Carolina. And if you couldn’t love the guy anymore, he’s using his new-found fame to raise money for kidney foundations and transplants, as Ayres received a kidney transplant himself.

While the hockey world has embraced Ayers as this year’s feel-good story, not all are thrilled. Brian Burke called the whole scenario of a 43-year-old turned game hero “embarrassing”. The NHL is also taking a look at their own emergency backup goalie policies. But why all the hate?

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Emergency backup goaltenders ever seeing meaningful game time is an extremely rare occurrence. Before Ayres donned a Hurricanes jersey, it was Scott Foster almost three years ago during the 2017-2018 season for the Chicago Blackhawks (Foster wasn’t officially credited the win in his appearance.)

Why be mad at something that happens, once every three years, if that? Most emergency backup goalies never get passed the practice bench. Don’t forget without the emergency backup goalie we might have “Lester Patrick plays goal” type of scenario.

Plus don’t hate on the Canes for giving Ayres some newfound fame. Their embracing Ayers the same way they embraced the famous “bunch of jerks” moniker from Don Cherry last season. Their fun and spontaneous nature towards things like this is one of the things that makes Carolina such a likable team.

They aren’t the first either. The Florida Panthers had a publicized tryout for backup goaltenders during the 2014-2015 season after both their goalies were injured. It was called the “Goal of a Lifetime contest”, but winners never saw NHL ice time. Mostly, it was a glorified publicity stunt that goalies everywhere couldn’t resist.

Now there’s a proposal that NHL rosters add a third goalie, more or less a practice goalie, to their roster. Most teams already have a practice goalie, where it’s a team employee or random local player that hangs around the rink waiting for a chance to put one some gear, so the proposal isn’t entirely out there.

The difference is that the “third goalie” position comes with a salary reported to be in the $50,000-$60,000 range, a far step up from the $500 and game-worn jersey Ayres received for his historic one-game wonder.

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If that isn’t the dream of beer league goalies everywhere, I don’t know what is. If the “third goalie” proposal is adopted, it will likely mean the end of the emergency backup position as we know it. Maybe it’s for the better, as the game advances and the position gets more specialized to have the extra hand on deck. Until then, remember that right now its Dave Ayres’ world, and we’re just living in it.

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