Sports fan or not, you have to meet David Ayres.

He’s a Zamboni driver and practice goalie for the Toronto Maple Leafs and their minor league affiliate. He’s also an emergency goalie for NHL games in Toronto, which means he watches in the stands waiting for opportunity that never comes. But last night, in a rare circumstance, both Carolina Hurricanes’ goalies were injured and Ayres finally got the call. He strapped on the pads mid-match and played in his first NHL game. And, he and his temporary team actually freaking won!

But that’s not all. The odds-busting gets even better. Ayres is forty-two-years-old, ancient in pro sports. And he had a kidney transplant 15 years ago. He thought he’d never play the game again. Ha! Now, after more than a decade of being an inglorious practice goalie, he got his unbelievable chance to actually play this game with the big boys. It’s enough to make you giggle at the odds.

The 9-1-1 goalie earned $500 for his efforts, but the Hurricanes are selling #90 Ayres shirts that will benefit him as well as an unnamed kidney foundation. It’s a big win any which way you slice it, unless, of course, you’re a Maple Leafs’ fan. But maybe even they can appreciate this underdog reminder that anything is possible… in hockey and in life.

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