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EBUG: The NHL's emergency backup goalie rule

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Re: EBUG: The NHL's emergency backup goalie rule

#61

Post by [deleted] »

antasvara wrote: post #20
rawling wrote: post #17

> In 2018, the accountant Scott Foster stopped all seven shots he faced to preserve a win for the Chicago Blackhawks. In 2020, the Zamboni driver David Ayres famously recorded the first-ever win for an EBUG as he denied his hometown Maple Leafs for half a game. If Foster won as EBUG in 2018, how can Ayres have had the first-ever EBUG win in 2020?

AFAIK, the winning goalie is the goalie that's in net when the "winning" goal was scored. So, if your team wins 4-1,the winning goalie is the goalie that was in when their team scored the second goal. The implication with Foster seems to be that he came in after this winning goal was scored. Ayres, on the other hand, must have had the winning goal scored while he was on the ice.

[deleted]

Re: EBUG: The NHL's emergency backup goalie rule

#62

Post by lordnacho »

hirvi74 wrote: post #6

I am a diehard NHL fan and a "beer league" goalie, and it would be my dream to be called up. However, I am acquainted with some individuals that are members of my favorite team's organization. My favorite team apparently has a roster of about 20 people that are "on call" for and given home game. Whether home or away, both teams in any given game can pull from the same roster i.e. the home team keeps the roster for bo…

Why would there be 20 people on call? Is there a backup for every position? Or do you mean only one or two of those are on call for a specific game?

Re: EBUG: The NHL's emergency backup goalie rule

#63

Post by Delk »

ascagnel_ wrote: post #38
kgermino wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there’s a few reasons they don’t worry about it: 1. This very rarely comes up at all. 2. These guys aren’t usually that good (by NHL standards) and you’ve probably lost the game anyway. You’re relying on your defense to keep the puck away from them more than you’re relying on them to excel. 3. (Probably most important to your point). This is one of the best days in this guy’s life. He’s In an NHL game and wil…

> These guys aren’t usually that good (by NHL standards) and you’ve probably lost the game anyway. Interestingly, EBUGs have a pretty good record -- teams using an EBUG have won 3 of 4 games they've been used in. I think #3 factors into it: the players know that a "normal" (to be clear: while EBUGs aren't NHL caliber, they're not scrubs or beer leaguers, either) guy has gotten the night of a lifetime, and they'll (ba…

It'd make absolute sense to play more tightly on defence when you've got an EBUG in your net as plain self-preservation. Of course the players may want to give extra support to the emergency guy out of sympathy as well, but if you've still got any shot left at the game, you'd also do it for simple tactical reasons.

Re: EBUG: The NHL's emergency backup goalie rule

#64

Post by Denvercoder9 »

lordnacho wrote: post #62
hirvi74 wrote: post #6

I am a diehard NHL fan and a "beer league" goalie, and it would be my dream to be called up. However, I am acquainted with some individuals that are members of my favorite team's organization. My favorite team apparently has a roster of about 20 people that are "on call" for and given home game. Whether home or away, both teams in any given game can pull from the same roster i.e. the home team keeps the roster for bo…

Why would there be 20 people on call? Is there a backup for every position? Or do you mean only one or two of those are on call for a specific game?

It's probably not a formal on call where people are required to be available, just a list of people that are willing to jump in if they can.

Re: EBUG: The NHL's emergency backup goalie rule

#65

Post by dmurray »

ascagnel_ wrote: post #38
kgermino wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there’s a few reasons they don’t worry about it: 1. This very rarely comes up at all. 2. These guys aren’t usually that good (by NHL standards) and you’ve probably lost the game anyway. You’re relying on your defense to keep the puck away from them more than you’re relying on them to excel. 3. (Probably most important to your point). This is one of the best days in this guy’s life. He’s In an NHL game and wil…

> These guys aren’t usually that good (by NHL standards) and you’ve probably lost the game anyway. Interestingly, EBUGs have a pretty good record -- teams using an EBUG have won 3 of 4 games they've been used in. I think #3 factors into it: the players know that a "normal" (to be clear: while EBUGs aren't NHL caliber, they're not scrubs or beer leaguers, either) guy has gotten the night of a lifetime, and they'll (ba…

> Interestingly, EBUGs have a pretty good record -- teams using an EBUG have won 3 of 4 games

This is mostly coincidental: the goalies only appeared in the dying minutes or seconds of games their teams were already leading.

Re: EBUG: The NHL's emergency backup goalie rule

#66

Post by dbt00 »

gzer0 wrote: post #13

If both uniformed goalies are removed, the EBUG, or Emergency Backup Goalie, takes over. An EBUG is a player provided by the host arena but available to either team. They're on a one-day contract, don't normally dress (get into gear), and usually just sit back and watch the game while eating a hot dog. It's typically a local rec league goalie/coach/staff member.

They sit in the press box unless a goalie gets hurt, then the equipment guys get the EBUG a jersey and he gets into his gear just in case he gets called in, but he has to stay in the locker room until or unless that happens.

Re: EBUG: The NHL's emergency backup goalie rule

#67

Post by moondev »

boomboomsubban wrote: post #42
kgermino wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there’s a few reasons they don’t worry about it: 1. This very rarely comes up at all. 2. These guys aren’t usually that good (by NHL standards) and you’ve probably lost the game anyway. You’re relying on your defense to keep the puck away from them more than you’re relying on them to excel. 3. (Probably most important to your point). This is one of the best days in this guy’s life. He’s In an NHL game and wil…

>These guys aren’t usually that good To further this point, the person in this article is nearly blind in one eye. And on three, I agree. But the rule also applies to playoffs and it's interesting to imagine how you would play with your favorite team's Stanley Cup dreams riding on it. More so when you add in how the city would react to your actions.

I don't think it applies in the playoffs. Last night in the Hurricanes Bruins game, canes goalie left game early in the first period. The backup entered the game, and during the intermission they showed another canes goalie that had gotten dressed and was waiting in the locker room if needed. This goalie is a player for the canes AHL team, and had actually started a game for the canes earlier in the season. So it seems during the playoffs teams can provide their own team affiliated (professional) EBUG to dress if needed. I assume away teams travel with one as well.

Re: EBUG: The NHL's emergency backup goalie rule

#68

Post by smeej »

boomboomsubban wrote: post #42
kgermino wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there’s a few reasons they don’t worry about it: 1. This very rarely comes up at all. 2. These guys aren’t usually that good (by NHL standards) and you’ve probably lost the game anyway. You’re relying on your defense to keep the puck away from them more than you’re relying on them to excel. 3. (Probably most important to your point). This is one of the best days in this guy’s life. He’s In an NHL game and wil…

>These guys aren’t usually that good To further this point, the person in this article is nearly blind in one eye. And on three, I agree. But the rule also applies to playoffs and it's interesting to imagine how you would play with your favorite team's Stanley Cup dreams riding on it. More so when you add in how the city would react to your actions.

Teams bring their own goalies in the playoffs. A third goalie travels with each team.

Re: EBUG: The NHL's emergency backup goalie rule

#69

Post by smeej »

boomboomsubban wrote: post #60
pastaguy1 wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's actually kind of a tough problem. A reserved fan ebug is a no go for reasons you stated and others. An extra roster spot might work, but that's potentially someone playing not very much hockey. OTOH, we already have that scenario since it's a 23 person roster. The thing is, this latest ebug appearance was kind of an important game. Goalies seem to get hurt more often now (someone just got hurt tonight), and as g…

The obvious solution is to allow a trainer/coach to suit up in emergencies, teams travel with enough personnel that I'd be shocked if someone isn't as capable as most of the EBUGs. And I do think keeping talent playing rather than coaching is one of the primary reasons they don't change the rule. With my rule change, if you're a 24 year old ECHL goalie how much money would it take to accept an EBUG "trainer" job? How…

Each team brings their own third goalie when it really matters, in the playoffs, and yeah, sometimes it's one of the coaches or trainers, but more often they just bring somebody who plays goalie a lot in his free time, just not at a professional level.

Re: EBUG: The NHL's emergency backup goalie rule

#70

Post by hhmc »

paulcole wrote: post #28

Of the major professional sports in the US, hockey goalie feels like the only position where this could happen. You could do it for kicker/punter in the NFL, but even then there’s a player on the roster who’s serviceable and then you can alter game strategy to minimize the need for kicking/punting.

Not a US sport (much), but this also applies to prop forwards in rugby union.
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