If you don't recognize this goaltender to the left, it's likely due to the fact that you didn't watch any hockey tonight nor were logged into any social media whatsoever. That is David Ayres, the emergency back-up goaltender who was forced into action for the Carolina Hurricanes as they visited the Toronto Maple Leafs after both James Reimer and Petr Mrazek were both felled by injuries in the game. Ayres normally drives the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine for the AHL Toronto Marlies. He occasionally takes a few reps as a practice goalie. He is 42 years and 194 days old as of today. In 2004, he received a kidney in a transplant. And he now has one NHL win in his career!
Ayres' big night hit a pile of milestones. They include:
- Oldest goaltender to win his NHL debut.
- Oldest visiting goalie in history to earn a victory in Toronto.
- First NHL emergency back-up goaltender to record a win.
- First organ transplant recipient to win an NHL game.
- First player to make his debut in any of the four major professional sports at age 42 or older since MLB Hall of Famer Satchel Paige made his debut at 42 on July 9, 1948.
- Second-oldest player in NHL history to make his debut. Only Lester Patrick was older when made his debut at 43 on March 20, 1927.
- Ayres stopped eight of ten shots he faced against the Maple Leafs in the 6-3 Carolina win.
Not bad, right? Oh, but this got big. Like really big on social media. The hockey community was all over it. People who are casual fans were cheering for Ayres.
PGA golfers were tweeting about him. And then the Governor of North Carolina got in on the fun.
I proposed on Twitter that the NHL do the right thing and invite David Ayres and his wife - who was on Twitter and tweeting while her husband was in net! - to the NHL Awards in June where Ayres should present the Vezina Trophy!
What makes this is night a little weird is that this isn't the first brush with the Carolina Hurricanes organization that David Ayres has had. Back on February 1, the AHL's Charlotte Checkers were forced to put Ayres in uniform and on the bench during their game in Toronto against the Marlies after one of their netminders went down with injury. What's even weirder is that both the Hurricanes and Checkers seem to use emergency back-up goalies way more than any other team as we've seen equipment manager
Jorge Alves suit up for the Hurricanes and former Manitoba Bisons netminder
Byron Spriggs don a Checkers uniform in the past!
Regardless of whatever is going on with the Hurricanes and their goaltending problems, the night ended up pretty well for Ayres as he not only got the win, but was paid $500 - standard for an emergency back-up goaltender - got to keep his #90 Carolina Hurricanes jersey, got a
Hockey Night in Canada towel(!), and will likely be the standard that all future emergency back-up goalies will be compared to just as Scott Foster of the Chicago Blackhawks was the standard to which Ayres was being compared.
Honestly, enjoy the stardom, David. You certainly earned it with your performance against the Leafs on hockey's national stage where you can say you beat the Leafs on
Hockey Night in Canada. Like you hear any professional hockey player say in retirement, cherish every second you're on the radar because you never know when these opportunities may end. But whatever may happen in the coming days, weeks, and months for you, just keep that smile on your face because it might have been the biggest smile seen in some time once that final horn sounded tonight.
Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!
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