Rebels goalie Ethan Anders in action on Feb. 8, 2020 (Photo: Rob Wallator)

By Dan Hermanutz

David Ayers makes one wonder...

What happens if the Red Deer Rebels need an emergency goalie?

Feb 27, 2020 | 7:00 PM

David Ayres captured the attention of the entire country, and the state of North Carolina, Saturday night when he was called upon by the Carolina Hurricanes to step between the pipes during a Hockey Night in Canada tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The 42-year-old rink attendant stopped eight of ten shots he faced to become the first emergency backup goalie to record an NHL win.

What would happen if the Red Deer Rebels, or any other WHL team, needed a third goalie during a game?

Per league rules, if a club has a third goaltender present in the arena, they are permitted to dress and play them. If a third goaltender is not present, that team will have to dress a regular skater as their next goaltender.

“Honestly I think I’d be a good goalie,” joked Rebels captain Ethan Sakowich. “I used to play goalie back in pee wee. (I’d) probably let in five. I’d make a few nice glove saves, I have a nice glove.”

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“I’ve never seen it happen where two goaltenders have gotten hurt,” said Rebels play-by-play guy and former WHL goalie Cam Moon. “I have seen it where, this has happened once or twice in my time, where a goaltender had to be borrowed from another team. But that was prior to the game. Guys get hurt and a team doesn’t have time to bring in their own prospects, and took a goalie from a different team.”

Teams hope that even if they’re put in a situation where a player who is not one of their regulars has to back up, they won’t have to see the ice. In life, things don’t always go to plan.

“(It) happened here once. Rebels were playing the Medicine Hat Tigers, they were down to one goalie and we’re able to borrow Tyson Sexsmith, who was 15 years old and a Vancouver Giants draft pick. So Sexsmith dresses, but wasn’t supposed to play. Until their guy got banged up and he had to come in as a 15-year-old and play a game for the Medicine Hat Tigers even though he was Vancouver Giants property.”

The Rebels will stick to conventional wisdom by having their regular goalies Ethan Anders and Byron Fancy at the ready when they host the Winnipeg ICE Friday night at the Westerner Park Centrium (7 p.m. on 106.7 The Drive).