Dave Ayres appreciation post

*Photo from CBC.ca*

   I know, this isn't a baseball post, I'm sorry. But something happened in the hockey world that I just have to write about here. Last night, the Carolina Hurricanes were facing the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto when both Hurricanes goalies had to leave the game due to injuries. Because of this, Toronto Marlies zamboni driver Dave Ayres was forced into action as goalie for the Hurricanes. Ayres is an emergency goalie who would be available to either team should both of their goalies get hurt, and it happened to Carolina, so Ayres was forced into action.

   It originally started as you would expect, as Ayres gave up two goals on two shots to the Leafs. He then found his footing, stopping the remaining 8 shots he faced to earn his first NHL win. Reimer started for Carolina, but had to leave with a lower body injury early in the game. Petr Mrazek then came in but also got injured in a thunderous collision with Leafs forward Kyle Clifford. After a short delay, Ayres emerged from Carolina's locker room, all ready to go. Fortunately for Ayres, the Hurricanes had his back, stopping the Toronto advance at every chance they could. When they couldn't, Ayres was up to the task.

   Ayres said postgame that "It's unreal right now, it's  hard to put into words, to be honest." When Ayres found it he was going in, he didn't believe it. "When I saw the text message, I was like, 'Are these guys playing with me right now? I'm going in?'" The Hurricanes had Ayres's back all night, which he credits as the reason for his win. He said that "They said, 'Have fun with it, don't worry about how many goals go in', they said, 'This is your moment, have fun with it.'" 

   Ayres helped the Hurricanes pick up a crucial two points in the playoff race, as Carolina and Toronto are right in the thick of it in the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes also tweeted postgame that Dave Ayres merch is now on sale online. Ayres said that "It's just a passion for the game, being 42, it's not exactly easy to stay in shape with these young kids anymore."