Has this ever happened?

Question

In an NHL game, your starting goalie gets injured. Your backup comes in and gets injured, what now? Have any of you ever seen this in a game? Has it ever happened?

Answer 1

They were actually talking about this last night during the San Jose/Boston game.

This is something that has happened many times in the NHL. The following players have been forced to play goal because their goalie was injured

Andrew Branigan (D) played 7 minutes in goal for the New York Americans in 1940-41
King Clancy (D) played 3 minutes over two seasons for the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs
Odie Cleghorn (RW) played an entire game for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1925-26 (he was also their coach)
Sprague Cleghorn (D) played 5 minutes over two games with Ottawa Senators (1918-1919) and Montreal Canadiens (1921-22)
Charlie Conacher (RW) played 10 minutes of net over 4 games with Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings
Jack Darragh (RW) played 2 minutes for Ottawa in 1920-21
Normie Himes (C) played 79 minutes over the course of 2 games for the New York Americans (1927-28, 1928-19)
Red Horner (D) played 27 seconds for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1931-32
Roger Jenkins (D/RW) played 30 minutes (and gave up 7 goals) for the New York Americans in 1938-39
Albert Leduc (D) played 2 minutes for the Montreal Canadiens in 1931-32
Alexander Levinsky (D) played 1 minutes for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1931-32
Harry Mummery (D) played 192 minutes over 4 games over 3 seasons with the Quebec Bulldogs and Hamilton Tigers....and he gave up 20 goals in those 3.2 games
Duncan Munro (D) played 2 minutes for the Montreal Maroons in 1924-25
Lester Patrick (Coach/GM) played 46 minutes of a playoff game in 1928, giving up 1 goal at the age of 44 (and for that appearance, won a Stanley Cup ring)
Hugh Plaxton (LW) played 57 minutes for the Montreal Maroons in 1932-33
George Redding (LW) played 11 minutes for the Boston Bruins in 1924-25
Charles Sands (C) played 25 minutes for the Montreal Canadiens in 1939-40
Allan Shields (D) played 41 minutes over 2 games for the New York Americans in 1931-32
Jesse Spring (D) played 2 minutes for the Hamilton Tigers in 1924-25
Harold Starr (D) played 3 minutes for the Montreal Maroons in 1931-32
Jerry Toppazini (RW) played 1 minute for the Boston Bruins in 1960-61
Douglas Young (D) played 21 minutes for the Detroit Red Wings in 1933-34


Also, back in the day, teams could use anybody to replace a goalie. Ross "Lefty" Wilson was one of these. Ross was a former goalie who became a trainer/janitor/slave for the Norris family in Detroit. Three times he had to play goal in the 50s, usually for the other team. When Mike Illitch bought the Red Wings, the first employee he fired was Ross Wilson, who by that time had a 40 year association with the team.

Answer 2

I'm not 100% sure about injuries, but a couple years ago when Edmonton was playing Atlanta, our starting goalie was injured or was sick or something and the guy who took his place was kicked out of the game for fighting the opposing goalie during a huge, almost team-wide brawl. We technically did not have a goalie dressed for the last 2 minutes or so, but because we were loosing, Craig MacTavish just left the net empty so we could have an extra man. I don't actually know what would have happened if it had been early in the game.

Answer 3

Usually In The NHL, They Have A Couple Goalie's To Back It All Up, But If They All Are Injuried, The Injuried Team Has To A. Get A New Goalie or B. Forfit...In My Leauge (Min, Bantom A) You Get 2 Goalies, And If They Are Both Injuried, Then Its An Automatic Forfit.

Answer 4

I don't know the exact answer to your question but I do remember the Flyers throwing the gear on Sudsy Settlemeyer, their trainer for many years, a few times in the late 70's and early 80's when one of their goaltenders would go down. I am not 100% on this one, but I recently recall the Flyers losing a goaltender mid-game and with the luxury of having the Phantoms on the other side of the parking lot, having one of those goaltenders get to the rink and put the gear on. I could be wrong on this, but it popped to mind when I read your question.

Does anyone know the last time an NHL team lost 2 goaltenders in the same game?

Answer 5

Actually i have! basicly they have a limited time to get a new goalie from a minor team or then someone on their team has to play goalie, for instance, ive seen a d man play goalie and a forward, but the funniest one was when the coach went in as the goalie.. it was weird. i think he stopped 18 of 20 shots or something like that.

Answer 6

well Ive heard commentary that somebody like a active player or a goalie coach could get gear on and/or delay the game and get pull a goalie from minors up to the NHL Lvlgame.

Answer 7

Good question mike... hmm i never seen it happen in a game.. but don't they have 3 goalies on a team its just 2 that dress..maybe they would have to delay the game, and call up one of thier prospects.

Great question, definatly one to think about. I mean i know for my league one of the players would be given the time to dress in the proper equipment then they would have to play the rest of the game.

Answer 8

I know that it has never happened in the NHL. But the rule goes something to the effect that the team that now has no goalie, is allowed to choose another active player. That player is then given time to put on the appropriate equipment.

Answer 9

Probably not too often recently. I'm sure if that happened on the Wings, they'd just get the pads on Lidstrom and send him out to play goalie.

Answer 10

Teams are actually prepared for this. They have at least one other player that can play goalie that is either on offense or defense. Not that he is any good, but he knows the basics.

Answer 11

Not sure if it has, but there has been occasion where Vancouver put a local collegiate goalie on contract for a day to act as a back for their starter that was hurt.