Positioned on the good thing about the couch where the goalie sits to rely on Hurricanes games is a locker he pickle as a lot as pay tribute to the crew that provided him the glorious thrill of his hockey profession.
“It be one of many glorious moments of my life, and I needed to be obvious it changed into acknowledged entrance and center,” he talked about. “It be keen to dispute it changed into that manner merit.”
The 42-365 days-used changed into the first emergency backup goalie to obtain an NHL game when the Hurricanes defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 at Scotiabank Arena on Feb. 22. He made eight saves in the final 28: 41 of the game after Carolina goalies Petr Mrazek and James Reimer every left resulting from ruin.
It changed into the glorious NHL game he’s performed.
Now, 173 days later, he changed into getting pickle to rely on Game 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round between the Hurricanes and Boston Bruins at his dwelling in Bowmanville, Ontario, 50 miles east of Toronto, the hub metropolis for the Eastern Conference. Because of the of COVID-19, viewing parties are a no-no, so Ayres invited NHL.com to affix him virtually about by Zoom.
The locker is in fats gaze and contains all forms of memorabilia.
“The equipment I mature in that game is pickle up in the entrance,” Ayres talked about. “There could be an autographed stick in there from goalie James Reimer, who’s this form of gargantuan guy. And there could be a white Canes jersey fancy the one I wore that night that the crew gave me, autographed by your complete Carolina followers.
“It be so frigid.”
Then again, his series of fabric cupboard on tonight didn’t encompass a Carolina shirt, and for ultimate motive.
He and significant other Sarah had deliberate to rely on Game 1 on Tuesday, but it absolutely changed into pushed merit to Wednesday at 11 a.m. for the reason that outdated game at Scotiabank Arena, a 3-2 victory by the Tampa Bay Lightning in opposition to the Columbus Blue Jackets, went 5 overtimes.
“Sarah had booked us a round of golf for Wednesday at a nice course called Baxter Creek, so I positioned on a Canes golf shirt and away we went,” he talked about. “We introduced speakers and listened to the game in the cart.”
The final consequence wasn’t what they’d hoped for. The Bruins defeated the Hurricanes 4-3 in double time previous regulation to select a 1-0 lead in the series.
It changed into time for Ayres to alternate the karma.
“The Canes shirt wasn’t bringing me luck, so I made a decision to switch with a (Toronto) Marlies shirt and a Canes cap for Game 2,” he talked about in reference to the American Hockey League affiliate of the Maple Leafs.
Mission done. The Hurricanes defeated the Bruins 3-2 to even the series.
“The gaze labored,” he talked about afterward. “It be going to be a part. We will be at our cottage in Parry Sound (Ontario, fatherland of Bobby Orr) for Game 3 on Saturday (Noon ET; NBC, SN, TVAS), and likewise that it’s doubtless you’ll presumably also guess I shall be wearing the identical things.”
Ayres spent eight years because the Marlies be conscious goalie and the previous three in the identical operate for the Maple Leafs. He’d additionally every so in most cases pressure the ice resurfacing machine at Marlies games, and talked about he’s been the emergency backup goalie at Scotiabank Arena for more than half the NHL games there the previous two seasons.
Video: Ayres on the spend of his spotlight 2d for a first fee pickle off
As Reimer skated onto the ice in Toronto for Game 2, the memories of his historical night came flooding merit to Ayres.
“It jogged my memory of when I skated out in that game after their goalies, Reimer and Petr Mrazek, got afflict,” Ayres talked about. “Identical rink. Identical entrance. Identical bench. And they’re wearing the identical white Canes jerseys they wore that night.”
Making the matchup a small bit advanced for him changed into that the Hurricanes had been taking part in the Bruins, the crew he grew up rooting for. His favourite player changed into goalie Andy Moog, who received 136 games with Boston from 1987-93.
“I cherished looking at him play,” he talked about. “However clearly I’m pulling for the Hurricanes.”
The following three hours proved to be a roller coaster of emotions.
It changed into a 2-2 game when Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton scored at 8: 30 of the third duration. Ayres talked about his nerves had been set to the take a look at in the final seconds when Reimer changed into channeling his inner Dominik Hasek, flopping in his crease and doing snow angels whereas the Bruins had been buzzing across the Carolina collect in an unsuccessful are attempting to tie the to find.
“That is no longer in actuality Reimer’s vogue, but he did whatever he had to to retain the puck out,” Ayres talked about. “As a goalie I can admire that.
“What a gargantuan obtain.”
Ayres talked about he’s in frequent contact with Mike Sundheim and Ride Sagester of the Hurricanes public family members department. He additionally exchanges texts with crew analyst Tripp Tracy.
“I exhaust to retain tune and obtain the interior word of what’s occurring with the fellows,” he talked about.
Given his relationship with the crew, the metropolis of Raleigh and the deliver of North Carolina, it’s easy to peep why.
On Feb. 25, Gov. Roy Cooper declared Ayres, a Canadian citizen, an honorary citizen of North Carolina. The metropolis of Raleigh declared Feb. 25 “David Ayres Day.”
Ayres, who changed into the oldest goalie (42 years, 194 days) to obtain his NHL customary-season debut, changed into an in a single day sensation after helping the Hurricanes defeat Toronto. There had been TV appearances on “These days” and “The Leisurely Display with Stephen Colbert,” and endless interviews with quite a lot of media retail outlets.
Ayres hasn’t forgotten how he changed into embraced. Because of the of that, he talked about he hopes to return to Carolina later this 365 days.
“I’m cheering for the Canes to obtain the Stanley Cup,” he talked about. “And if they carry out, that it’s doubtless you’ll presumably also guess I’m heading down there for the parade.
“Lunge Canes!”
