Twenty-four hours after Tristan Jarry hit the back of the net for the Penguins, Capitals draft pick Mitchell Gibson was credited with a goalie goal in the South Carolina Stingrays’ 8-5 win over the Savannah Ghost Pirates, Friday.
Gibson “scored” 11:35 into the second period after the Ghost Pirates pulled their goaltender during a delayed penalty call. An errant pass from a Ghost Pirates’ forward along the side boards eluded their defenseman at the blue line and slid all the way into their own net. In these parts, we call it a Hagelin!
GOALIE GOAL🥅 (⁉️) pic.twitter.com/nCHc99d9wQ
— SC Stingrays (@SCStingrays) December 2, 2023
Gibson was awarded the unassisted goal because he was the last player to touch the puck.
“It’s pretty surreal honestly, most guys go their whole careers without getting one so I’m just fortunate,” Gibson said to RMNB. “I barely nicked a shot from the boards with my stick and got one of the luckiest breaks of my career. I didn’t know who got the credit until they announced it.”
Gibson took a photo with his milestone goal puck in the locker room after the game. He also made 23 saves in the victory.
Lots of firsts tonight! 😈
✔️ Gibson’s first Pro Goal
✔️ Monty’s first Pro Goal
✔️ Stingrays’ first Goalie Goal scored at home pic.twitter.com/kA5xaQNoYy— SC Stingrays (@SCStingrays) December 2, 2023
“Thankfully, Garin Bjorklund grabbed the puck before they dropped it for the next faceoff,” Gibson said. “It’s even better my parents flew into Charleston this morning so them to witness that was even crazier.”
Gibson’s Stingrays’ teammates were happy for his goal, but there were naturally jokes.
“Everyone was gracious, cracking jokes about how good of a snipe it was. Post and in,” Mitchell said laughing.
Gibson is officially the 16th goaltender in ECHL history to score a goalie goal per the league’s website.
Ryan Fanti, Fort Wayne vs. Rapid City, March 25, 2023
Francois Brassard, Maine at Adirondack, Dec. 18, 2022
C.J. Motte, Quad City at Fort Wayne, Dec. 9, 2017
Alex Nedeljkovic, Florida at Atlanta, Dec. 30, 2016
Brian Foster, Cincinnati vs. Trenton, Feb. 15, 2013
Timo Pielmeier, Bakersfield at Utah, Dec. 19, 2009
Jonathan Quick, Reading at Pensacola, Oct. 24, 2007
Trevor Koenig, Atlantic City at Wheeling, March 2, 2005
Brian Eklund, Pensacola at Mississippi, Dec. 5, 2003
Mike Smith, Lexington vs. Dayton, Oct. 26, 2002
Mark Bernard, Toledo vs. Johnstown, March 27, 2001
Nick Vitucci, Charlotte vs. Louisville, March 6, 2006
Sean Gauthier, South Carolina at Raleigh, Dec. 19, 1995
Olie Sundstrom, Erie vs. Wheeling, Dec. 15, 1995
Corwin Saurdiff, Hampton Roads vs. Charlotte, March 18, 1995
Gibson also may be the first goaltender in the Capitals’ organization to ever score a goalie goal with a team affiliate — at least in recent history. No Capitals goalie has ever scored at the NHL level — though former Capital Jose Theodore hit the back of the net while playing for the Canadiens. The same can be said for the Hershey Bears who have never had a goalie score in their near century long existence.
The Capitals selected Gibson in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL Draft. The 2023-24 season is his first as a professional after he spent the previous three years as Harvard’s number one netminder in the NCAA. He made his AHL debut with the Bears earlier this season.
Gibson joined Sean Gauthier as the only other goalie in Stingrays history to score. South Carolina’s affiliation with the Capitals started in 2004.
Capitals seventh round draft pick from the 2023 NHL Draft, Antoine Keller, was also credited with a goalie goal in a QMJHL game on Friday night, too.
Headline photo: @SCStingrays/X
