Forever Matt Berlin

The Edmonton Oilers goaltender to the left has taken a long and winding road to getting into that Reverse Retro jersey, but he finally got that opportunity tonight as the Oilers had Matt Berlin as their backup netminder in their game against Chicago. Berlin has played for three WHL teams, two AJHL teams, and, most recently, one U SPORTS team as he was guarding the net for the Alberta Golden Bears in five games this season. Berlin has played well for the Golden Bears ove rthe last three seasons when, at times, used sparingly, but he's a very capable goaltender who has shown he can stop pucks at all levels. And that now includes the NHL level as well!

I can wax poetic about Matt Berlin's 2:26 of ice-time in the NHL, but I wouldn't do it justice. Being that this blog likes to celebrate the achievements of Canada West players and U SPORTS players in general, I thought I'd like the folks at Hockey Night in Canada describe Berlin's first NHL appearance and his first NHL save!
Honestly, that is so cool that Berlin, as the EBUG, got the nod from Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft. Woodcroft and Golden Bears head coach Ian Herbers have a solid professional relationship, but it was reported that it was Connor McDavid who suggested Woodcroft give Berlin the last two minutes with the Oilers leading 7-3! With Stuart Skinner ruled out with an illness, Berlin was texted on Saturday afternoon that the Oilers needed a goalie who could dress, so there would be no sitting in the stands for this EBUG!

With Berlin stopping a Caleb Jones shot with 49 seconds to play, he officially records a save in the NHL to become a goaltender of record in the NHL this season. His 2:26 of time would still qualify him as an NHL goaltender, of course, but Matt Berlin can put on his resumé that he holds a save percentage in the NHL of 1.000!

They say you haven't made it in the NHL until you get one of the Hockey Night in Canada towels during the interviews they do on their broadcasts. Well, Matt Berlin, you can officially say you made it!

Congratulations go out to Matt Berlin for his NHL debut! He is now the eighth Golden Bear to skate in the NHL, but he's the only player to have debuted in a Reverse Retro jersey! If you're looking for a cool jersey cameo that I'll give full marks and full credit for, a Matt Berlin #33 Oilers Reverse Retro jersey would be one of the coolest that could hang in your closet!

As a fan of U SPORTS hockey, seeing Matt Berlin suiting up for Oilers means that the path, while not entirely direct, can still lead to the NHL. I don't know if Berlin will have an NHL job in the future, but his 2:26 of action following Luke Philp's NHL debut with the Blackhawks on Tuesday proves that the dream doesn't have to die if one isn't drafted by an NHL team.

Talent gets you drafted, but hard work gets you to the show. It's a line heard over and over again in sports, and Matt Berlin is living proof of that as he continues to play at a high level with Alberta while putting in the work as a student. Sometimes, the path isn't a straight line, but Matt Berlin proved tonight that any path to the show is still better than giving up on the dream!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!