Carolina Hurricanes win game with 42-year-old emergency goaltender

Dave Ayres has instantly become a hockey legend after stepping into net for the Carolina Hurricanes in an emergency situation.

The Carolina Hurricanes had to deploy an emergency backup goaltender — colloquially known as EBUGs — on Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs after both of their netminders left the game due to injury. In their places, 42-year-old zamboni driver David Ayres was pulled from the stands in Toronto and was made to play nearly half the game in relief.

In the first period, Hurricanes starting goaltender James Reimer left after a collision in the crease with his own player. Then in the second period, backup Petr Mrazek was removed from the game after suffering an upper-body injury after being run into by Maple Leafs forward Kyle Clifford.

Ayres, the Toronto EBUG, then stepped into the net for the Hurricanes to play the remainder of the game.

The 42-year-old held his own in net, making his first save with confidence and allowing just two goals to the Maple Leafs in the eventual 6-3 victory for Carolina. Ayres entered the game for the Hurricanes with the team leading 3-1.

The netminder’s night ended up being quite the historic one, as not only did he win in his first ever NHL game, he was the first star of the night and became the oldest goaltender in NHL history to win his regular-season debut.

After the win, Ayres told Sportsnet that he had the “time of [his] life out there” in net for Carolina.

The Hurricanes capitalized on the opportunity, as the team immediately started selling shirts with Ayres’ name and number on the back, with the netminder hopefully going to get some of the money from the sales — as Ayres was paid just $500 and his game-worn jersey for the emergency situation.

After the game, the Hurricanes gave Ayres quite the sendoff for the incredible moment hockey fans will never forget.

The last time the hockey world saw an EBUG steal the show was when Scott Foster suited up for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018.

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