Maple Leafs' AHL team signs Zamboni driver as backup goalie for one game

The Toronto Marlies, the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, came up with a unique solution to a goalie shortage for their game in Rochester on Friday night.

Getting the start was Jonathan Bernier, an NHL regular for the past five years recently sent to the AHL on a conditioning stint after a miserable start to the regular season for the Leafs.

And on the bench backing him up was Dave Ayres, a 38-year-old building operations manager who was yanked from his usual job on the ice crew and signed to a one-game tryout.

It was an exciting moment for Ayres whose notoriety on the ice was limited to occasionally being seen driving the Zamboni for Marlies home games as part of his job.

#MarliesLive News (contd): The #Marlies have also signed Dave Ayres to an Amateur Tryout for this evening's game. pic.twitter.com/G2citncvOf

— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) December 4, 2015

The Marlies were in need of another goalie because their two regular goalies, Garrett Sparks and Antoine Bibeau, had been recently recalled to the NHL, while their ECHL goalie, Rob Madore, could not make it to Rochester from Orlando in time for the game.

Ayres didn't get a chance to play for the Marlies on Friday night and could only watch as Bernier stopped all 22 shots he faced in a 4-0 win.

And just as unceremoniously as his signing before the game, the Marlies announced that Ayres was released from his tryout right after it.

#MarliesLive News: The #Marlies have released David Ayres from his ATO.

— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) December 5, 2015

That's Canada. Throw a hat into the stands, and you got a hockey player.

Hockey goon slams opponent's head into ice during AHL fight (VIDEO)

During Friday night's AHL game between the Adirondack Flames and Rochester Americans, Trevor Gillies grabbed forward William Carrier's head and bashed it into the ice.  And it might be one of the most dastardly hockey goon moves you will ever see in the rink — which says a lot.

The 35-year-old Gillies — whose NHL career spanned a whole 42 games with the Islanders during his nearly 20 year pro hockey career — grabbed the Carrier, a St. Louis Blues pick who isn’t known as a fighter, with 3:09 left to play and began pounding the the 19-year-old Americans player with punches.

Carrier finally went to the ice in an attempt to avoid any more punishment before Gillies saw fit to grab the kid by the jersey and brutally slam his head to the ice.




Carrier was able to walk away from the mugging, but let's see if it gets Gillies a suspension.

Jordin Tootoo makes young boy's day by giving away stick (VIDEO)

Jordin Tootoo was a bit of a tough guy when he was with the Nashville Predators but seemed to show a softer side the other night with the Grand Rapids Griffins (a Red Wings affiliate) in the AHL.

Following the pregame skate in the team's season finale last week, Tootoo came off the ice to head to the dressing room. On his way there, a young boy standing on the bench excitedly yelled out "Tootoo!" and reached out. The player stopped, said hi to his new friend and gave the boy his stick.

And if the kid's infectious laugh doesn't stick with you, his "Tootoo!" will.

Everyone together. Tootoo!

AHL Penguins to wear commemorative Miracle on Ice uniform (PHOTO)

When the USA hockey team plays Russia in Sochi on Saturday, it will mark the 34th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice — arguably the greatest moment in American sports history and a story that will be repeated by NBC announcers leading up to the game until the sound of Al Michaels voice makes your ears bleed.

To commemorate that glorious bronze medal game between the old Cold War rivals, the AHL's Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins will host the Providence Bruins during  an Olympic Hockey Celebration night and wear altered versions of iconic white sweaters Team USA wore in 1980 up in Lake Placid.

But the Penguins are bringing them back with a slight change — WBS replaces USA across the chest. Otherwise they are the same.

Granted, WBS across your chest doesn't have the same national pride as USA but it's the sentiment that counts. And these special-occasion jerseys will be available after the game for auction to benefit charity.

1980 was the last time a U.S. hockey team stood on the gold medal podium at an Olympics, so maybe the Penguins' special unis will be an inspiration for their own team.

WBS! WBS! WBS!

Here's a crowd-pleasing AHL goalie fight (VIDEO)

Yes there was a rare —but always crowd-pleasing— goalie fight Friday night.

Jeff Deslauriers of the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and John Gibson of the Norfolk Admirals came together at center ice during a stoppage in play, dropping the gloves and blockers in a quick scrap. It's hard to figure out why this scuffle started, although Gibson, as he was skating back to his net from the bench, skated right into Deslauriers, who wasted no time in getting the fight started.

Then a few other dances broke out on the ice.

According to the official game report on the AHL website, Deslauriers received two roughing minors, a fighting major and a game misconduct. Gibson was assessed only a pair of roughing minors.

13 players ejected in wild benches-clearing AHL hockey brawl

An insane benches-clearing brawl broke out in the middle of an AHL hockey game and, when the mayhem settled, 13 players were ejected from the game during the second period of the Saturday night rumble.

The wild donnybrook broke out between the Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Black Hawks affiliate) and  Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings affiliate) players during "Pink in the Rink Night" to raise money to fight breast cancer research.

When the dust had settled, it might have been better named Red on the Rink night.




The IceHogs — wearing pink jerseys — trailed 6-3 when the succession of fights broke out.  Even the goalies dropped their gloves (always a crowd-pleaser) and tangled between themselves.

When the game was over, the teams had racked up 230 penalty minutes with four battles combined.

Oh yeah, the Griffins won, 11-6.