Home » Sports » Team Sports » Hockey » 42-year-old Zamboni driver, kidney transplant recipient, and practice hockey goalie David Ayres, led the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 win after their two pro goalies were injured. Cheered by the opposing team’s fans, he was the oldest player ever to make his pro debut in a major sport.

42-year-old Zamboni driver, kidney transplant recipient, and practice hockey goalie David Ayres, led the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 win after their two pro goalies were injured. Cheered by the opposing team’s fans, he was the oldest player ever to make his pro debut in a major sport.

Carolina Hurricanes’ emergency backup goalie beats Toronto Maple Leafs

Dave Ayres is a 42-year-old Zamboni driver and kidney-transplant recipient. He gets his first NHL win after Carolina’s two goalies leave the game hurt.

TORONTO — David Ayres was sitting by himself in the bowels of Scotiabank Arena when he got word that Hurricanes starting goalie James Reimer had suffered an injury.

The on-call emergency netminder in Toronto, Ayers got half dressed into his gear on the off chance something might happen to Carolina’s second option, Petr Mrazek.

Midway through the second period, Ayres noticed his cellphone started to blow up. What he didn’t realize was that Mrazek had been hurt in a scary collision with Maple Leafs forward Kyle Clifford and was down on the ice.

Next thing the 42-year-old Zambon… Continue Reading (6 minute read)

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