36-year-old accountant who never played pro hockey closes out Blackhawks win as goalie

If you thought the Loyola-Chicago NCAA Tournament run was the best underdog story in the country…guess again. It’s not even the best rags-to-riches story in the Windy City.

On Thursday night during the third period of a National Hockey League game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Winnipeg Jets, an unfamiliar face in a No. 90 Blackhawks jersey stepped in front of the net at the United Center.

“Hey who’s this guy?” an announcer even had to ask.

Wearing No. 90 for the Chicago #Blackhawks: Scott Foster pic.twitter.com/2u3uCFXGhO

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 30, 2018

That guy was Scott Foster, the team’s emergency goalie, a 36-year-old accountant who hadn’t played in a competitive hockey game in more than 10 years. He had once played hockey for Western Michigan University from 2002 to 2005 and donned the pads in recreational “beer leagues” since. But Foster had never played in the NHL.

So it was no surprise when the father-of-two ended up trending on Twitter and stealing the spotlight from fellow Blackhawk Brent Seabrook, who played his 1,000th-regular-season game that same night.

EMERGENCY GOALTENDER SCOTT FOSTER FILLS IN AND MAKES HIS FIRST CAREER SAVE! pic.twitter.com/D6CZ7HPfof

— NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) March 30, 2018

Foster is one of a small group of “emergency backup” goaltenders who are kept on hand, usually in the press box or the stands, in the highly unlikely event both regular goalies on the roster are hurt or otherwise unavailable.

Earlier in the day, starting goaltender Anton Forsberg injured himself during a morning practice. Down to one goalie, rookie Collin Delia, the Blackhawks signed Foster as an emergency back-up.

And in an amazing twist of fate Delia – in the midst of his own NHL debut – had suffered an injury in the third period, sending Foster into action.

“The initial shock happened when I had to dress and then I think you just kind of black out after that,” Foster said.

Foster finished the night with seven saves on seven shots—including one on sharpshooter Patrik Laine—in 14:01 of ice time — that helped lead the Blackhawks' to 6-3 victory. And if you crunch the numbers, it means the beancounter Foster has a better NHL career save percentage (1.000) than even Martin Brodeur or Dominick Hasek.

Sorry Sister Jean. Back to obscurity — at least for a day.