The Blackhawks used a 36-year-old accountant who had never played in the NHL as an emergency goalie — and he stopped every shot he faced

The Chicago Blackhawks needed their emergency goalie on Thursday night because of injuries, so they turned to Scott Foster.
Foster, a 36-year-old accountant, had not played in a competitive hockey game in 12 years and had never appeared in the NHL or at any other professional level.
Foster stopped all seven shots he faced in 14 minutes, helping secure the win for the Blackhawks.

Scott Foster had the night of his life on Thursday.

The 36-year-old accountant had not played a competitive hockey game since college 12 years ago. But other players' injuries forced Foster into action for the Chicago Blackhawks during a critical part of their game against the Winnipeg Jets.

Foster proceeded to stop every shot he faced in 14 minutes of action to help secure the 6-2 win.

The unusual night started when the Blackhawks' starting goalie, Anton Forsberg, was injured before the game.

NHL teams keep emergency goalies around for situations just like this. They are typically from local rec leagues, and according to The Associated Press' Jay Cohen, they usually get only "a nice dinner and a night in the press box watching the world's best players compete at hockey's highest level."

The home team provides the goalies, but either team can use them if needed. If a goalie is injured unexpectedly and there is not enough time for a minor league goalie to arrive, the emergency goalie will suit up, go through warm-ups, and — usually — sit on the end of the bench watching the game.

But on Thursday, the Blackhawks also lost their backup goalie to a leg cramp in the third period. So they sent in Foster to protect their lead through the game's final 14 minutes. And did he have a night!

He immediately stopped his first shot, prompting loud cheers from the crowd.

That was the first shot Foster had faced since playing in the 2005-06 season at Western Michigan University.

'The initial shock happened when I had to dress," Foster said after the game. "I think you just kind of black out after that."

But he wasn't done — he also stopped the next six shots he faced.

Seven shots, seven saves.

When the final horn blew, the Blackhawks were winners, and Foster was the hero. His teammates showed their appreciation.

"This is something that no one can ever take away from me," Foster said. "It's something that I can go home and tell my kids and they can tell their friends."

He added: "Just a ton of fun."

Foster was even named the first star of the game.

Well deserved!

The Blackhawks used a 36-year-old accountant who had never played in the NHL as an emergency goalie — and he stopped every shot he faced

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