The NHL regular season isn't even a week in and we already have our first emergency goalie call-up of the season.
When Ryan Miller arrived at practice Tuesday morning in Vancouver, he had some tightness and was ruled out for the game against the Blues. With Jacob Markstrom set to start, the Canucks needed a back-up goalie, and due to timing, among other things, the team's best option was to poach a goalie from the UBC Thunderbirds.
Matt Hewitt, a 23-year-old from New Westminster will play the role of emergency back-up goalie against St. Louis Tuesday night.
The former Regina Pat is in his fourth year at UBC and in the three season prior to this one, Hewitt started 14 or more games in each for the Thunderbirds.
By all accounts, it's a dream come true for Hewitt and an opportunity that doesn't come around very often.
While Hewitt probably expects to not play a single second against the Blues, crazier things have happened.
In fact, in 2003, Chris Levesque was called to be an emergency back-up goalie for the Canucks after Dan Cloutier got hurt on game day and he nearly played during the game.
Whether he plays or not, though, we're sure Hewitt, and all those at the game supporting him, will enjoy the experience either way.
(H/T: Daily Hive)
