Beer-league goalie on Jets' roster of emergency Winnipeg netminders
Gavin McHale, 30, ready in off chance another goalie needed during playoffs
Odds are that Gavin McHale won't end up between the pipes for the Jets this playoff season, but that hasn't stopped thebeer-league netminder from dreaming.
"I just got goosebumps just thinking about it," said McHale, 30, one of a few emergency goalies in the Jets' roster with a normal day jobwho could in theory gettapped to suit up for theNHLteam, given the right circumstances.
It's a rare day when someone like McHale gets that call, but it did happen in Chicago last week. Scott Foster, a 36-year-old accountant, strapped on the pads for the Blackhawks and played the final 14 minutes in a win over the Jets on March 30.
"The initial shock happened when I had to dress. I think you just kind of black out after that," Foster said at the time.
"It's tough for anybody to come in 50 minutes into a hockey game, let alone a guy who hasn't played in the [NHL]," Jets coach Paul Maurice said of Foster after the game in March. "A great moment for him."
McHalemanages a website and works as a personal trainer in Winnipeg, but when he was younger he played at elite levels, including two seasons with the University of Manitoba Bisons' hockey team.
He mostly plays in local recreational and beer leagues now with his team Shake 'n' Bake, which he says is full of former pro, junior and college players.
"We play Saturday afternoons and I'm always home for dinner, and I've had a beer or two, so it's perfect," says the 6-foot-7, 225-pound goalie.
Called up to big league
TheNHLrevised its rules in 2017 to ensure each team hasat least one emergency goalie at every home game able to fill in for either team at a moment's notice.
This past fallMcHale saysJets assistant general manager Craig Heisingercalled him up to the big leagues. Sort of.
I think everyone knows that if I go in it's a really bad situation for that team.- Gavin McHale
"When you see that name come up on your phone, you answer," McHalesays. "He just asked if I was still playing, if I was interested in this opportunity, and of course I tried to seem cool but I wasn't. I was super excited and I obviously accepted."
Since then McHale has been invited to take in Jets games from the press box about a dozen times in the low likelihood the team needed him, leaving his gear in his car in the parking lot.
"I definitely don't have a routine," he said. "I try not to eattoo much popcorn and just try and stay as ready as I can, because I think everyone knows that if I go in it's a really bad situation for that team."
'Craziest 20 minutes of my life'
For the most part his NHL experience has been confined to the stands, but once in February against Colorado, McHalewas notified just after the secondintermission he would have to get dressed and don an Avalanchejersey.
Colorado goalie Jonathan Berniergot hit in the head during the second period of play and was replaced bySemyon Varlamovto start the third period, with McHalerushing to get dressed as acontingency.
"I had to basically run down, get my equipment, put it on as quick as I could and just wait in the Avalanche dressing room," McHalerecalled.
"Nothing happened but it was the craziest 20 minutes of my life."
McHalehasn't heard yet whether the Jets need him in the stands for playoffsjust in casebut he's keeping his "fingers crossed." Hecan already imagine how overwhelming it would be to besurrounded by a raucous whiteout crowd of Jets fans at their arena.
"I don't know if I could say on air exactly what I would say or how I would feel, because I know how it felt in a regular season game in February," McHale said.
"So that's going to be one of those moments where, like what Scott Foster said, 'You just black out.'"
A Jets spokesperson would not confirm who has been identified as possible emergency goalies for the team this playoff season, but said "Gavin will likely be on that list."
With files from the Associated Press
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