David Ayres recalled his kidney transplant 15 years ago when he never thought he’d play hockey again.
But the 42-year-old Zamboni driver starred in one of the most amazing stories in the sport’s long history in this town, unfortunately at the expense of the Maple Leafs who employ him as their practice netminder.
The emergency goaltender on call at Scotiabank not only got the call from the Carolina Hurricanes, he made eight saves on 10 shots in Saturday’s 6-3 win. He won the hearts of thousands at the rink and at home on TV, while his zealous teammates checked the home side tender into the ice.
“It’s unreal,” Ayres said. “I saw the text message (to get ready) and thought ‘are these guys playing with me’?
“I was ready to stop the puck, I just couldn’t do it for the first two shots. (goals by John Tavares and Pierre Engvall). Then I think I blanked them.”
The scene around the Carolina quarters was surreal; Ayres going down the tunnel and then being sent back out for a first-star bow, getting interviewed on Hockey Night In Canada with the famous towel draped over his shoulder, then into the room where he was drenched by cheering Canes emptying water bottles over him. As their game MVP, he was accorded a team song. Then it was back outside for the one local TV outlet who made the road trip (no press) and then into a mosh pit of Toronto media.
“You’ll never see this again as long as you live,” said an NHL scout as he passed by.
Ayres has been the full-time practice goalie for the Leafs and Marlies for eight years, getting into one brief AHL game. That gig led him to split the job of emergency goalie for both teams at SBA with others, depending on his day job schedule and bantam AA coaching duties in Whitby.
He was deep in the minors with the Laredo Bucks when the kidney ailment put his career in doubt. But he kept his pads and while working in Ricoh Coliseum grooming the ice and doing maintenance, Marlies equipment man Will Burns heard he was a goalie and coach Sheldon Keefe started inviting him out when the farm team needed an extra man at practice. That led to the Leaf gig, including last month’s outdoor practice at City Hall. He’s now working at Mattamy Athletic Centre, old Maple Leaf Gardens,
On Saturday, first it was James Reimer shaken up by his own defenceman skidding into him, then Petr Mrazek came out too far for a puck in the middle period and got the worst of a collision with Kyle Clifford. Ayres was in the media room watching the game when he got the first text from his contact, Leafs scouting operations director Reid Mitchell, he was needed after Reimer was hurt.
“Their guy came in and said ‘get ready’,” said Ayres, who then got half dressed. “I thought I’d never be nervous if this ever happened, but as you could tell, I couldn’t stop a puck in the second. But I told the boys if I come in the third, I’ll be ready to go.”
Coach Rod Brind’Amour, who said the Reimer injury and a second-period shoulder mishap with defenceman Brett Pesce were likely long-term, was also floored by the events.
“You’re wondering, ‘How is this going to end?’ The first couple of shots go in, so that’s what makes it so special. We really dug in.
“But I have to thank David. It wasn’t a couple of minutes, it was half a game. I don’t remember a time ever having to go in the stands for a third goalie. What a memory for him.”
Ayres wore his Marlie-themed mask, but the Canes wanted his Leaf blue shell pants replaced for the third period. Afterwards, the Canes Twitter feed mock-advertised a No. 90 Ayres sweater for sale starting Sunday.
Every time Ayres made a save, he could hear an appreciative crowd cheering and it must have seen strange when he stood in the crease during a timeout while the SBA rink crew – doing his day job – buzzed around him.
He had some knowledge of Leaf shooters from practice, which Keefe suspected might have eased his nerves.
“I didn’t expect Tavares to go low on the first shot. He psyched me out. I thought he’d go high blocker. I said if the guys come in on me, I think I know where they’re gonna to go, but in a game situation that’s all out the door.
“Our guys played so well for me in the third, they chipped it out and kept it away from me. I said, ‘Give me a couple of shots – but not too many.’”
Ayres’ disbelieving wife tweeted “F*** me” as she nervously watched his heroics unfold on TV.
“Is she still alive?” laughed Ayres. “Poor girl. It’s going to be good to go home, relax, take my jersey with me and hang it up somewhere and look at it every day.”
But he still expects the Leafs to call him when needed.
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2020
