Are you a male older than the age of 18 with experience playing high-level amateur hockey? Do you live in the Los Angeles or Newark, New Jersey area? Well it just might be your time to shine.
The New Jersey Devils and the Los Angeles Kings are looking to find an amateur goaltender to serve as an emergency backup goalie (EBUG) for all of their 2017-18 home games.
Any goalies interested in making the @NHL? #NHLTonight pic.twitter.com/uDBdhwyHpe
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) September 16, 2017
A new NHL rule for the 2017-18 season mandates that each team has one EBUG in the stands for each home game. The emergency goaltenders are used when one of the team’s primary goalies are not healthy enough to play and it is not possible to fly in an AHL or ECHL backup before puck drop.
While EBUGs almost never see ice time beyond warmups, the role allows a beloved community member to become an official NHL player for a day. Such was the case with Carolina Hurricanes equipment manager Jorge Alves last season, when he was given the opportunity by the team to play the last 7.6 seconds of the game.
The Caps also have some heartwarming experience with EBUGs. Back in 2008, Brett Leonhardt, then the Caps’ website producer, was also given the chance to fulfill his lifelong dream of being an official NHL player when he dressed as the Caps’ emergency goaltender for a few minutes in the first period against the Ottawa Senators. He realized his dream once again in 2013 as the Caps’ video coach when he suited up as the EBUG for Braden Holtby after Michal Neuvirth injured himself during warmups.
Both the Devils and the Kings will soon be holding open tryouts to fill this role. The Devils are restricting their search to candidates between the ages of 18 and 35 who can attend nearly all 41 home games and some practices, have full equipment, and have experience playing at an amateur level higher than high school. The tryouts for qualified candidates will be held on September 23 at Prudential Center. You can apply to tryout here.
The Kings are being a bit less selective, simply searching for candidates over 18 who have played high-level amateur hockey but have never signed a professional contract. They are, however, limiting the September 27 tryouts to 30 goaltenders, so if you’re interested and qualified, be sure to apply soon.
More via the Kings:
The LA Kings will hold open goaltending tryouts on September 27 at the Toyota Sports Center as the club seeks qualified amateur goaltending candidates to provide emergency goaltending duties at all of its 2017-18 home games at STAPLES Center.
Candidates must be at least 18 years old and have played a high level of amateur hockey, but must not have signed a contract to play in a professional league.
“The NHL requires each home team to have an emergency goalie in the stands for every game and we thought this would be a good opportunity to see who in our area is best qualified for the job,” said Kings President Luc Robitaille. “It will be interesting, that is for sure.”
Sign up now, as only 30 goaltenders will be selected to tryout for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! You must RSVP. Walkup registrations will not be accepted.
