Toto zažijete jedine v NHL. Pred nočným duelom medzi Edmontonom Oilers a Chicagom Blackhawks sa domácim zranil brankár Stuart Skinner.
Klub tak narýchlo podpísal na amatérsky skúšobný kontrakt Matta Berlina z University of Alberta.
Edmonton v závere vyhrával presvedčivo 7:3 a tak prišlo pre 25-ročného Kanaďana k životnému zážitku. Jeho kolega Jack Campbell ho pustil do bránky.
Nakoniec zaznamenal aj jeden úspešný zákrok, po ktorom ho fanúšikovia v Rogers Place odmenili veľkým potleskom.
Úprimne som si myslel, že si robia srandu. Keď mi zavolali, práve som si robil domácu úlohu z psychológie,
reagoval Matt Berlin po zápase.
EBUG ACTIVATED 👀
— NHL (@NHL) January 29, 2023
Matt Berlin, from the University of Alberta (@GBHKY), dressed for the @EdmontonOilers tonight. He saw 2:26 on ice, making one save on one shot for a 1.000 SVP% and a memory that will last a lifetime. pic.twitter.com/go9fvADKPh
"I thought they were kidding, to be honest." 😅
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 29, 2023
U of Alberta goalie @mattberlin29 on his reaction when Jay Woodcroft put him in net to finish the game and make his @NHL debut for the @EdmontonOilers. pic.twitter.com/jZfWXDDwWK
EBUG Matt Berlin said he was doing homework for a psychology mid-term when the Oilers told him he was the backup 📚 pic.twitter.com/YxNdmBac3C
— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) January 29, 2023
Foto: Twitter/Sportsnet