A HUGE NIGHT FOR DAVID AYRES

FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE LEGENDARY LESTER PATRICK

It's the kind of story that can only be manufactured in Hollywood.

 Last night, when both James Reimer and Petr Mrazek were forced out of action against the Toronto Maple Leafs due to injury, the call went out for the emergency back up goalie. And David Ayres was in the building to take the call.

In a huge leap, Ayres went from practice goalie for the Leafs and Toronto Marlies (AHL), to National Hockey League goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes. His last known experience between the pipes was a minor league gig with the Texas based Laredo Bucks.

Ayres made his NHL debut in the second period and after letting the first two Leaf shots get by him, he settled down and didn't allow another goal. Carolina downed the Leafs by a 6-3 score. He is pictured above making a save.

"I thought I'd never be nervous if this happened, but as you could tell, I couldn't stop a puck in the second," said Ayres in his post-game comments. "But I told the boys if I come in the third, I'll be ready to go."

Ayres not only earned the win, but was named the first star of the game.

At the age 42, Ayres is not the oldest emergency back up goalie to win a game. That honour goes to New York Rangers legend Lester Patrick. His huge night came in game two of the 1928 Stanley Cup final. With Patrick in goal, the Rangers defeated the Montreal Maroons 2-1 in overtime.

I wrote a story about the '28 final in 2014 and here is an excerpt dealing with Patrick's adventure in game two...

The other unique situation occurred in game two on April 7, 1928, when a scary incident left the Rangers without their star goalie. Once again, Lawrence of The Times explains what happened:

The dramatic element entered into the picture when Lorne Chabot, Ranger goalie, was badly hurt when Nelson Stewart, right wing of the Maroons, drove a a disk into the Ranger goalies left eye.

Chabot was unable to continue between the pipes, leaving the Rangers in a bind. To rectify their goaltending situation, they first sought permission to use Ottawa goalie Alex Connell, who was taking in the game. The Maroons refused to agree and New York was forced to look in-house.

Under the rules of the day, Chabot had ten-minutes to recover and if he was unable to proceed, New York had to put a substitute in net. The NHL defined substitute as someone under contract to the club.

The only in-game alternative for New York was their manager, Lester Patrick. Even by today's standards, Patrick, then 44 years-of-age, was considered too old for the task. With their back-to-the-wall and Patrick under contract, New York had no other choice but to use their manager.

In a recent communication with Leo Bourgault, he pointed out that his Dad (Leo Sr.), who played for the '28 Rangers, "offered to put the pads on when it happened, but Lester declined, he needed all his defencemen and the rest is a great story."

By all accounts, it is indeed a great story.

 "Patrick played a great game, stemming off numerous attacks by the strenuous Maroons, and was wildly applauded by the crowd," noted The Times as Patrick led his team to victory.

With Chabot out for the remaining games, Patrick moved to find a replacement.

When game three began, there was a new face in the crease for New York, Joe Miller. A native of Morrisburg, Ontario, Miller started the 1927-28 campaign with the New York Americans and participated in 28 contests (8-16-4), but was sent down to the Niagara Falls Cataracts (Can-Pro League).

Miller became property of the Boston Bruins when they claimed the Americans didn't make him available on waivers. He remained in Niagara Falls on the understanding he would serve as a "relief goalkeeper in the NHL" when called upon.

Although New York was shutout 2-0 in game three, Miller's reviews were positive. One scribe wrote,  "...had it not been for his sterling work, the locales would have won by a larger margin."

It all game down to one contest to determine hockey's champion for 1928 after Miller blanked the Maroons in game four by a score of 1-0.