OT: Do you believe in miracles? David Ayres does!
Hotel Putingrad
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42-year-old David Ayres is the Zamboni driver for the Toronto Marlies, the Maple Leafs' AHL team. He was also the emergency goaltender tonight.
Carolina lost its starter, James Reimer, in the first period, and backup (and erstwhile Red Wing) Petr Mrazek in the second period, due to injuries.
Ayres came in, pitched a shutout the rest of the way, and got the win for the Hurricanes. Against Toronto. On Hockey Night in Canada.
Unbelievable.
"Hurricanes defeat Maple Leafs 6-3 with emergency goalie David Ayres in the net" https://twitter.com/i/events/1231389317530030082
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DCGrad
February 22nd, 2020 at 11:02 PM ^
This is one of the more incredible sports stories I’ve ever heard. It’s like bringing in the other team’s ball boy to play QB and still winning the game.
Joined: 09/20/2014
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Ibow
February 22nd, 2020 at 11:02 PM ^
Nice story but not quite the, “Do you believe in miracles,” caliber.
Joined: 04/13/2018
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Hotel Putingrad
February 22nd, 2020 at 11:09 PM ^
I'm 42 and an excellent Zamboni driver.
But there's no way in hell I could keep Tavares, Matthews, and Marner et al off the score sheet for 20+ minutes, in the midst of a playoff race.
Joined: 12/10/2014
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Oscar
February 22nd, 2020 at 11:20 PM ^
If someone else doing things that you can't do is a miracle, then the bar is pretty low.
Joined: 05/06/2011
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Hotel Putingrad
February 22nd, 2020 at 11:42 PM ^
Says the grouch.
Joined: 12/10/2014
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Oscar
February 23rd, 2020 at 12:32 AM ^
Just saying Putin should have higher goals.
Joined: 05/06/2011
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OwenGoBlue
February 23rd, 2020 at 10:21 AM ^
He's already become an excellent Zamboni driver!
Joined: 04/03/2016
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rob f
February 23rd, 2020 at 11:31 AM ^
Such as The Crimea?
.
Oh, wait...
Joined: 11/11/2010
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MGoGrendel
February 22nd, 2020 at 11:24 PM ^
What if you parked the Zamboni in front of the goal?
Joined: 01/21/2013
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Muttley
February 23rd, 2020 at 1:12 AM ^
But you certainly could keep the Red Army team off the scoreboard.
That is, if you decided to play goalie instead of a center scoring 10 goals per game, making it look as if the opposition isn't even trying to stop you.
Joined: 07/07/2009
MGoPoints: -73245
mschol17
February 22nd, 2020 at 11:10 PM ^
It wasn't a shutout. He gave up goals on the first two shots, then stopped the next 8. Still pretty sweet.
Joined: 10/08/2009
MGoPoints: 2233
xtramelanin
February 22nd, 2020 at 11:12 PM ^
and you see all the leafs fans giving the guy a standing O at the end of the game. what a thrill for him and a show of sportsmanship by the fans appreciating one of their own, in a sense, turning against them.
Joined: 12/09/2014
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stephenrjking
February 22nd, 2020 at 11:19 PM ^
They're good fans. He's actually a Toronto guy, doing his job. This is a great moment:
Joined: 03/15/2012
MGoPoints: 20143524
stephenrjking
February 22nd, 2020 at 11:12 PM ^
I love this stuff, 100% awesome.
Some great stuff here: I love how the players are into it. These are millionaires, professionals. Ayres is a guy who drives a zamboni and gets out with a team as a practice target because he played junior B. But they know it's an awesome story, the dream. They're totally with him.
And he gets first star.
And when he takes his skate when the star is announced... look how many fans are still there. They stayed to cheer him.
This happened a couple years ago, when Scott Foster played most of the third period for the Blackhawks when their guys got hurt. Great moment then, too.
Joined: 03/15/2012
MGoPoints: 20143524
Mike Damone
February 22nd, 2020 at 11:17 PM ^
Awesome story. Loved the way the Carolina team mobbed him at the end, but the Toronto fans also gave him a standing O despite the loss. Great stuff all around - and a dream come true for David Ayres.
Joined: 09/02/2017
MGoPoints: 24092
UNCWolverine
February 23rd, 2020 at 1:34 AM ^
This is fantastic.
Joined: 10/06/2008
MGoPoints: 23159
Sambojangles
February 23rd, 2020 at 9:48 AM ^
One of the great things about sports is weird things like this happening. It's a great story and good for Ayres and the Canes.
It's wild. Hockey goalie is the most specialized position in sports. QB, pitcher, and catcher are all close, but for each of those you can find a guy on your roster to play it in an emergency. The emergency back up goalie rule proves that you can't just grab someone else from the team and put pads and a helmet on and put them in there.
It's even better that he got the win. After he gave up the pair of goals, Carolina played in front of him like he was Shawn Hunwick. Incredible.
Finally, if you think the Michigan fan base is toxic after a loss, go check out Maple Leafs fans. They're losing their minds.
Joined: 12/15/2008
MGoPoints: 10985
befuggled
February 23rd, 2020 at 10:20 AM ^
You should have seen it after the Leafs blew a 4-1 third period lead against the Bruins in game 7 in a playoff series a few years ago.
I hardly needed to read the whole post to know the Leafs lost, either.
Joined: 07/01/2008
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KalkaskaWolverine
February 23rd, 2020 at 9:53 AM ^
That's a fantastic story!
Joined: 04/08/2017
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Blue1972
February 23rd, 2020 at 11:12 AM ^
Always a great story.
Knew a guy who worked part time at the Anchorage Arena and played goalie in the top men's league.
About 18 years ago, when the Anchorage Aces were in the WCHL they played a home game against a visiting team and I cannot recall their name. Regardless, they also lost their two goalies, "drafted" Chad to fill the vacancy and Chad led them to victory. The visiting team gave him $50, a stick, a jersey and some pucks.
When he went outside to load them into his truck, he realized the locals had slashed his tires!
Joined: 09/12/2010
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CoverZero
February 23rd, 2020 at 2:26 PM ^
#Awesome!
Joined: 08/30/2014
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thethirdcoast
February 23rd, 2020 at 8:25 PM ^
The most incredible part of this story is that after giving up two goals on the first two shots he faced Ayres settled down enough to pitch a shutout the rest of the way.
That's just awesome.
Big ups to his new teammates:
That's just an awesome attitude on the 'Canes part. Sport doesn't get any better.
Joined: 08/01/2008
MGoPoints: 3963