BOCA RATON, Fla. – Coming to an NHL city near you – NHL tryouts.
Don’t be surprised if sometime next fall there are open auditions for amateur goaltenders to be added to the list of emergency backups dreaming of becoming the next David Ayres.
Call it Canadian Idol – EBUG edition:
No messy draft process or contract negotiations necessary – just get the go-ahead to show up with your gear and a dream.
The opening day of the NHL’s general manager meetings wrapped up Monday with word that after extensive discussion on the league’s emergency backup goalie system, there is still a very real chance the best story of the NHL season could be told again.
The EBUG procedures will not be changed.
“Every team now has got people that are available to perform and do well, so I don’t think there’s any need,” said Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon, whose club stood to lose ground on Toronto had the Maple Leafs lit up Ayres and come back to win.
“We were nervous, very nervous, but it turned out that it didn’t affect anything. The better team won that game in reality. It happened to us three years ago, and the (two) times it’s happened in 50 years, do you change the whole thing? I think we’ve addressed it in the last few years having goaltenders ready in the building, whereas before we had to find somebody or put your goaltending coach in. I think we did a good job fixing it and it turned out for the better.”
The league made changes to the EBUG protocol in 2015 after Roberto Luongo took a puck in the head and left for a scan at the hospital, only to return to action for backup Al Montoya, who was injured in relief. As Panthers goalie coach Robb Tallas dressed to play, Luongo returned despite being banged up, prompting the league to find better alternatives.
Anyone with pro experience, or employees of teams, were then prohibited from filling in, opening the door for a system in which one amateur goalie is to be made available for either team at every game.
Teams must register those goalies with the league based on whatever criteria they choose. There are currently 136 EBUGs registered, as some teams have more than others.
“Some places have tryouts,” said Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff.
“I think in L.A. they had lots of applicants and whittled it down to 30 and had actual tryouts. Fortunately, in a market like Winnipeg, we have a lot of former college and university players. It’s come a long way and has served its purpose. The general feel is we’ve come a long way from where we were a couple of years ago when we didn’t have anyone in the room or the building.”
Ayres, a 42-year-old rink manager and Leafs practice goalie, gained international attention on Feb. 22 when he filled in for both of the Carolina Hurricanes’ injured netminder midway through the second period of a Hockey Night in Canada game against the Leafs. The kidney transplant recipient allowed two goals on his first three shots, allowing the Leafs to tie it 3-3, before settling down in the third period to stop all eight shots in a 6-3 win.
“I called (Hurricanes GM) Don Waddell in the second intermission and said, ‘can’t one of those two guys please come back?’” said NHL vice-president Colin Campbell with a laugh.
“As it turned out, it was a good human interest story and it worked out. I think the process works.”
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Campbell said the league immediately contacted game officials that night to remind them that if Ayres was injured and couldn’t continue the only options left were for a team to dress one of its players as a goalie, or simply play with six skaters.
Ayres signed an amateur tryout contract before entering the game and wasn’t paid for his efforts. He was allowed to keep his jersey. He spent the next week doing the TV and radio talk show circuit around North America and had his stick put in the Hockey Hall of Fame as the oldest player ever to win his NHL debut.
His moment in the spotlight came on the 40th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice.
“I think everyone recognized it was a great story for the league,” said NHL executive vice-president of communications Gary Meagher.
“I know there has been some coverage that we were going to take the fun out, and there was never any discussion of that. Everyone recognized the coverage and how positive it was. It’s also happened just twice.”
The only other EBUG appearance came in 2018 when the Chicago Blackhawks Scott Foster also became a household name.
The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.
The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.
Trends of the Week
The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.
In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.
When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.
Upsets of the Week
The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.
Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.
NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.
Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.
The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.
Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.
Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.
Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.
TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.
Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).
Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.
Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.
Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.
Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.
The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).
The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.
The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.
