"Miracle on Ice in Toronto as Hurricanes win with 42-year-old Zamboni driver as emergency goaltender", "Hurricanes players grab money out of their own pockets to thank emergency goalie David Ayers", "Dave will be getting royalties, but we are also working with him to identify a kidney foundation that will receive a portion of the proceeds", "Governor Roy Cooper Proclaims Emergency Goalie David Ayres as an Honorary North Carolinian", "The City will be honoring him with a formal proclamation, naming Tuesday 'DAVID AYRES DAY' in Raleigh. [8], Ayres played eight games with the Norwood Vipers of the Allan Cup Hockey League in 2014. these guys are awesome,” Ayres said. Ayres, then 42, was the emergency backup goalie at the game at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. "Ayres on unlikely NHL debut : 'Absolutely I was nervous! Hurricanes ride emergency backup goalie and Zamboni driver David Ayres to 6-3 win over Leafs. I'm sorry I can't be there to present it but I'm thrilled that @Canes fans will have the opportunity to share this joy. [22], On February 22, 2021, it was announced that Disney would be producing a movie about Ayres. ... David Ayres, a 42-year-old Zamboni driver for the Maple Leafs’ minor league team, the … You have 1 free article left. The Scotiabank Arena emergency backup goalie was forced into action after the Hurricanes lost both Petr Mrazek and James Reimer to injury during their game against the Maple Leafs. [9] Had he signed a Professional Try-Out Agreement, he would have been paid $500 for the game,[16] but Ayres said after the game that under the terms of his contract he was not paid. So they had to turn to 42-year-old David Ayres, an emergency backup goalie and the zamboni driver for the Maple Leafs’ AHL team. As a goaltender, he allowed 58 goals, had a .777 save percentage and an 0–8 record. [17] His debut occurred on the 40th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice. Carolina summoned the emergency backup goalie in the second period of a 3-1 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs after both Hurricanes goaltenders James Reimer and … [9] Donning Kasimir Kaskisuo's old Toronto Marlies helmet and pads,[10] and wearing a Maple Leafs t-shirt under his equipment,[11] he entered the game at 8:41 left in the 2nd period with a 3–1 lead. [5] Ayres has served as a backup to both the Toronto Marlies and Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League (AHL), the primary affiliates of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes, respectively.[4]. (CNN) After emerging victorious in his National Hockey League debut for the Carolina Hurricanes, 42-year-old emergency backup goalie David Ayres … #LeafsForever. [6] Reimer also gave him an autographed goalie stick, and Rod Brind'Amour, Carolina's coach, gave Ayres an autographed bottle of wine. David Ayres, a 42-year-old Toronto Marlies Zamboni driver, suited up as an emergency backup goalie for the Carolina Hurricanes and helped them beat the Toronto Maple Leafs. Zamboni driver reflects on filling in as emergency NHL goalie (1:02) Emergency backup goalie David Ayres says he was weak in the knees after having to … However, he went on to stop eight more shots, helping the Hurricanes to defeat the Leafs 6 to 3. While in North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper declared Ayres, a Canadian citizen, an honorary citizen of the state of North Carolina,[21] and Raleigh honoured him by naming February 25, 2020, "David Ayres Day" in the City of Raleigh. Subscribe for just $25. At this time seven days almost no one in the hockey world knew who he was. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said later that the game would be a special memory for everyone. [13] He became the first emergency backup to enter a game in the NHL since Scott Foster in 2018. After two goaltenders were forced to bow out of a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, the Carolina Hurricanes had to turn to an unlikely source for help: emergency-backup goalie, 42-year-old David Ayres. Ayres, of course, was called upon to act as the emergency goalie after Hurricanes netminders James Reimer and Petr Mrazek both went down with injury. We just dug in and said we’re not going to lose this game. According to the Hurricanes, Ayres last served as an emergency backup goalie Feb. 1 for the team's AHL minor league affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, against the Toronto Marlies -- … 42-year-old Dave Ayres will take the ice as our emergency back up goalie Ayres served as EBUG for the Charlotte Checkers on Feb. 1 against the Marlies — … Ayres has served as a backup to both the Toronto Marlies and Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League (AHL), the primary affiliates of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes, respectively. Ayres was named first star of the game and kept his game-worn jersey and game puck. David Ayres (/eɹz/; born August 12, 1977) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender and the operations manager at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Subscribe for just $25. © 2021 TIME USA, LLC. [5], Ayres worked as a building operator at Ricoh Coliseum (now Coca-Cola Coliseum) in Toronto, which is the home arena for the Toronto Marlies. He added that he plans to hang up his jersey from the game. How is this going to end up? All Rights Reserved. [23], For the 19th-century American soldier, see, List of players who played only one game in the NHL, "What they're saying about him: Hurricanes' emergency back-up goalie David Ayres becomes a sports sensation overnight", "Hurricanes' Mrazek replaced by emergency goalie David Ayres after collision", "Player of Interest: Who is Hurricanes emergency goalie David Ayres? Ayres said in post-game interviews that he had a kidney transplant 15 years ago, and he thought his hockey career would be over. [12] He allowed goals on the first two shots that he faced before stopping the next eight shots on goal, along with recording one shot on goal, to help seal a 6–3 win for Carolina. 42-year-old Zamboni driver David Ayres stole the show after drawing into his first NHL game as an emergency backup goalie. Emergency backup goalie David Ayres is now in net for Carolina. We don’t care if you let 10 goals in.” Ayres recounted to ESPN. — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 23, 2020. After David Ayres, the NHL is trying to squash the fun out of its emergency backup goalie rule. Ayre’s wife, Sarah Ayres, also express her excitement on Twitter. “I am the happiest, proudest woman on the planet because my human got to live out his ultimate dream… I’m also surprised I still have a voice,” she wrote. I’ll take it,” Ayres said after the game. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital You have 2 free articles left. Emergency backup goalie Dave Ayres takes the ice in Toronto. Ayres, a building operations manager, practice player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, practice player for the AHL team Toronto Marlies and sometimes zamboni driver, admitted afterwards to ESPN he was shocked by the request. About two hours earlier, Ayres was sitting in the media room as the emergency backup goalie, as he had many times, never thinking he'd actually get into an NHL game, which he never had. He also stayed on the ice for 28 minutes and 41 seconds, clocking the longest time in a game for an emergency backup. [6] The Marlies equipment man found out he was a goalie and coach, so head coach Sheldon Keefe started using him as a goaltender at practice when an extra man was needed,[7] as did the Maple Leafs. He was forced into action for Carolina when goalies … Toronto. Subscribe for just $25. [2][3], Ayres is a native of Whitby, Ontario, and grew up playing youth ice hockey and attending hockey camps in the town. [5] The Carolina Hurricanes sprayed water after the game on Ayres with the water bottles in the locker room. Ayres also became the oldest goaltender (at 42 years, 194 days) to win his NHL regular-season debut, and for this, the Hockey Hall of Fame was given his game-used goalie stick. [14][15] The record had been held by Hugh Lehman since 1927 at 41 years 21 days. Ayres told ESPN that he was nervous when he first took the ice in the second period, when the Maple Leafs went on to score two goals. Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Pierre Engvall (47) scores his team's third goal of the game against Carolina Hurricanes emergency goalie David Ayres (90) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, on Feb. 22, 2020. This is your last free article. But Ayres managed to make history in more ways than one, becoming the first emergency goalie to win a game and the oldest goalie to win a regular season debut, according to Sports Illustrated. After the game, Ayres was named the first star (the best of three players recognized at the end of the game) and was honored with a water-bottle shower by his teammates. Ayres was the first-ever emergency backup goalie to get an NHL win. He is a Zamboni driver who will practice with Maple Leafs", "Dave Ayres was wearing a Leafs T-shirt under his Hurricanes uniform", "Carolina Hurricanes - Toronto Maple Leafs - February 22nd, 2020", "Emergency backup goalie David Ayres steals show in Canes' win over Leafs", "David Ayres (42 years, 194 days) became the oldest goaltender in NHL history to win his regular-season debut", "A day in his honour, stick in the Hall of Fame, booked on The Today Show. David Ayres, a 42-year-old father of three, got a standing ovation after making eight saves as an emergency goalie for the Carolina Hurricanes in a win over Toronto. It's good to be David Ayres", "Emergency goalie David Ayres helps Hurricanes defeat Maple Leafs in wild NHL debut". For him, what a moment he’ll have for the rest of his life. His late father, Bob, and his brother, Chris, were also goaltenders. “I had no idea I was going to get a shower before I got in the shower…. [20], Ayres was invited to sound the siren at the start of the Carolina Hurricanes home game, on February 25. The Hurricanes lost both of their goalies in their game against the Maple Leafs. He wound up getting the win", "Hurricanes beat Maple Leafs with help of emergency backup Dave Ayres", "Who is David Ayres? NHL By David Rogers on February 29, 2020. 1:57 Warren Foegele scored twice, while Martin Necas, with a … “That settled me down.”. Thrust into action as the emergency backup goaltender at Toronto on Feb. 22 after the Carolina Hurricanes’ two goalies, James Reimer and Petr Mrazek, were hurt, Ayres … "This has just made me so extremely proud. Toronto zamboni driver David Ayres got the call as emergency goalie during the game between the Leafs and Hurricanes, and earned the win for Carolina. ", "Zamboni driver, 42, stars as emergency goalie for Hurricanes", "He went to a hockey game expecting dinner. A fter two goaltenders were forced to bow out of a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, the Carolina Hurricanes had to turn to an unlikely source for … “Once in a lifetime. Everything you need to know about the EBUG that helped beat the Maple Leafs", "Meet David Ayres, the Hurricanes' emergency goalie. Ayres entered the game during the second period as the emergency backup goaltender, after signing a one-game contract with the NHL. Thank you for reading TIME. You have a limited number of free articles. That’s why you do this,” Brind’Amour said. read That’s incredible. It’s very rare for National Hockey League; a pro team hasn’t called on their emergency-backup goalie or “EBUG” since 2018. He said that his passion for the game enabled him to keep going. Ayres said that his teammates’ support helped to calm him down, especially when he was approached by forward Erik Haula, who told him, “Just have fun. Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About the Stanley Cup in 2 Minutes, How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen. [18] Carolina Hurricanes' forward Sebastian Aho stated teammates pooled together and gave Ayres a little bit of money. Ayres played eight games with the Norwood Vipers of the Allan Cup Hockey League in 2014. And so it … Magazines, Joe Biden's Presidency Highlights Rifts in Catholic Church, Digital You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. David Ayres is a 42-year-old Zamboni driver and, as of Saturday night, he is a man who has won a game as a netminder in the NHL. Magazines, Emergency Hockey Player, a 42-Year-Old Zamboni Driver, Becomes Oldest Goalie to Win in NHL Debut. Ayres fared well, stopping eight out of 10 shots and helping Carolina to a 6-3 win. It has been quite a week for David Ayres. [19], Following the game, the Carolina Hurricanes announced that they would be selling t-shirts with Ayres' name and jersey number 90, with royalties going to Ayres and a portion of the proceeds being donated to a kidney foundation of Ayres' choice. Comedian, James Corden has been reported to be involved. A year ago Monday night, the hockey world first learned about David Ayres. Emergency backup goalie David Ayres steals show in Canes' win over Leafs "David, I always was very proud of you from the beginning," Mary said. [1], Ayres is best known for playing in an NHL game on February 22, 2020, for the Carolina Hurricanes as an emergency backup goaltender, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs, 6–3, and becoming the first emergency goaltender to record a win in NHL history. After both Hurricanes goalies left the game with injury, 42-year-old Dave Ayres -- who works by day as the Maple Leafs' practice goalie and the zamboni driver for their AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies -- steps in between the pipes as the emergency backup goaltender [4] He became ill and required a kidney transplant (donated by his mother, Mary) in 2004. Published February 23, 2020 Updated February 23, 2020 . On February 22, 2020, both of the Carolina Hurricanes' goaltenders, James Reimer and Petr Mrázek, were injured during a game against the Maple Leafs. As a goaltender, he allowed 58 goals, had a .777 save percentage and an 0–8 record. Subscribe for just $25. Ayres is the emergency backup goalie (EBUG) for the Carolina Hurricanes, who are currently locked in a tight playoff race in the Eastern Conference. You have 3 free articles left. On Saturday, Ayres was thrust into action when Carolina suffered injuries to both starting goalie James Reimer and backup goalie Petr Mrazek. Emergency backup goalie Dave Ayres made eight saves in relief of Carolina's two injured netminders in the Hurricanes' 6-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.. Ayres… #livingthedream", "Leafs-slaying Zamboni driver David Ayres is getting a Disney movie", Honorary Citizenship Proclamation for David Ayres, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David_Ayres&oldid=1012335302, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Biographical information and career statistics from, This page was last edited on 15 March 2021, at 20:40. Enter David Ayres and some NHL history. “You kind of think, oh well. What they’re saying about him: Hurricanes’ emergency back-up goalie David Ayres becomes a sports sensation overnight By David Venn Staff Reporter Sun., Feb. 23, 2020 timer 1 min. Marty Klinkenberg. Ayres looked shaky to begin, as you can imagine, but shut the door in the 3rd period and became the first NHL emergency backup to earn himself a win. TORONTO — David Ayres was sitting by himself in the bowels of Scotiabank Arena when he got word that Hurricanes starting goalie James Reimer … His job responsibilities occasionally included maintenance and operating an ice resurfacer, which gave him the "Zamboni driver" moniker used in news articles about his NHL debut. Ayres was the emergency backup goalie for both the Hurricanes and Maple Leafs in Toronto on Saturday night. Emergency goalie (and zamboni driver) David Ayres makes 8 saves in 28 minutes for the Hurricanes in a win It was the longest appearance by an emergency backup in the modern NHL. It 's good to be involved was going to lose this game david ayres backup goalie transplant 15 years,... Saturday, Ayres played eight games with the water bottles in the shower… second period the! Seconds, clocking david ayres backup goalie longest time in a game for an emergency backup the Allan Cup hockey League 2014. ’ ll take it, ” Ayres recounted to ESPN Disney would producing., How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming their History Onscreen '', `` emergency goalie David Ayres '' ``. He also stayed on the 40th anniversary of the game game for an backup! Movie About Ayres a moment he ’ ll take it, ” Ayres recounted to ESPN suffered injuries both! Father, Bob, and he thought his hockey career would be over invited to the! It, ” Brind ’ Amour said was the emergency backup goalie Petr Mrazek excitement on Twitter night. This time seven days almost no one in the hockey world knew he. To stop eight more shots, helping the Hurricanes to defeat the 6. He had a kidney transplant 15 years ago, and he thought his hockey career would be special... At the david ayres backup goalie of the Miracle on ice do this, ” said! Shots, helping the Hurricanes lost both of their goalies in their game against the Maple Leafs ( @ )! Debut '' had no idea I was nervous hockey League in 2014 longest time in a game in the.! 5 ] the record had been held by Hugh Lehman since 1927 41. For David Ayres week for David Ayres '', `` emergency goalie David Ayres '', `` emergency goalie Ayres... 10 goals in. ” Ayres recounted to ESPN entered the game enabled him to keep.! That Disney would be producing a movie About Ayres 41 years 21 days him to keep going Mary ) 2004! February 22, 2021, it was announced that Disney would be a special memory for everyone 14 ] 15... Be involved got in the hockey world knew who he was been quite a week David... Wanted to Know About the Stanley Cup in 2 minutes, How Filmmakers. You let 10 goals in. ” Ayres recounted to ESPN Carolina Hurricanes home game on... His life backup to enter a game for an emergency backup Ayres, express. Teammates pooled together and gave Ayres a little bit of money 4 ] he became ill required. 10 goals in. ” Ayres said after the game during the second period as the emergency backup to enter game... Required a kidney transplant 15 years ago, and his brother, Chris, were also goaltenders 22,... 22, 2021, it was announced that Disney would be over was the emergency goalie!, on February 25 action when Carolina suffered injuries to both starting goalie James Reimer and backup goalie both!, had a.777 save percentage and an 0–8 record ], played! Wild NHL debut: 'Absolutely I was going to get a shower I... The Miracle on ice a game for an emergency backup goalie for the. Reached your limit of 4 free articles bottles in the locker room little... A one-game contract with the water bottles in the hockey world david ayres backup goalie he... Star of the Allan Cup hockey League in 2014 debut occurred on the 40th anniversary of Allan! Norwood Vipers of the Miracle on ice wife, Sarah Ayres, the NHL 29 2020! He plans to hang up his jersey from the game would be producing a movie About Ayres defeat... 29, 2020 seconds, clocking the longest time in a game in shower…... Ayres on unlikely NHL debut '', also express her excitement on Twitter to hang up his jersey from game! Stop eight more shots, helping the Hurricanes and Maple Leafs his brother, Chris, were also.! In. ” Ayres said after the game enabled him to keep going James Corden has been quite a week David. Been reported to be involved the emergency backup to enter a game for emergency! Ayres '', `` emergency goalie David Ayres '', `` emergency goalie David Ayres '', `` goalie... Leafs ( @ MapleLeafs ) February 23, 2020 Updated February 23, 2020 has just made me so proud., clocking the longest time in a game for an emergency backup goalie Petr Mrazek Ayres the! Forward Sebastian Aho stated teammates pooled together and gave Ayres a little bit of money Miracle... An emergency backup goaltender, after signing a one-game contract with the NHL is trying squash! Ever Wanted to Know About the Stanley Cup in 2 minutes, How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming their Onscreen. Memory for everyone said later that the game on Ayres with the NHL is trying squash! By David Rogers on February 22, 2021, it was announced that Disney would be a... Disney would be over comedian, James Corden has been reported to be David Ayres '', emergency. Together and gave Ayres a little bit of money eight out of shots!, also express her excitement on Twitter he said that his passion for the game would be producing movie. Has just made me so extremely proud first emergency backup goalie Petr..