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.

Worst way to lose a hockey playoff game ever

A fluke overtime goal during the AHL Calder Cup Finals gave the Norfolk Admirals a 1-0 victory over the the Toronto Marlies and an ever sicker feeling to the losers after falling into a 3-0 hole in the series.

With the game tied at 0-0 during overtime, Norfolk's Mike Kostka dumped the puck into the Marlies' zone while their goalie Ben Scrivens left the net to clear the puck.  One problem, the puck took an weird bounce off a stanchion along the glass, went sideways and right into the empty net while the Toronto skaters just stood around.

It looks like a couple of Admirals were offsides but the officials credited the goal to Kostka for the 1-0 win at 9:09 in OT.



The freak play had to break the hearts of the Marlies players and home ice fans.  In fact, one Marlie on the ice can be seen smashing his stick over the crossbar in disgust.