Tom Hodges became the third member of the emergency goalie club to step onto the icy surface during a National Hockey League (NHL) game on Friday night.
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However, he is the first member of this very select club to have only one working eye.
“At the age of 14, I lost sight in my left eye, which made the role of goalkeeper incredibly difficult for me for many years,” Hodges said, in an interview with the “SMU Look” magazine in November 2019.
“To get back to the level I was playing before, I had to work twice as hard as my peers. It was quite a challenge at the time, but in the long run I think it had a very positive effect on my work ethic.”
The 28-year-old goaltender has been Dallas’ emergency goaltender since the 2019 season. He works his day-to-day life as a life insurance salesman.
Zamboni driver David Ayres was the last emergency goaltender to play an NHL game, helping the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in February 2020. Scott Foster, an accountant, had protected the Chicago Blackhawks cage against the Winnipeg Jets in March 2018.
Nervous
In his case, Hoghes was forced to don his gear and jump on the ice to help out the Anaheim Ducks in the third period. The “Ducks” had previously seen John Gibson and Anthony Stolarz fall in battle.
“When I was told, ‘Hey, you’re going to have to get dressed and jump on the ice’ – because it wasn’t certain for a few moments – I confess that I have never been so nervous to all my life. I had never played in front of so many people. It was the experience of a lifetime, and I will definitely remember it for the rest of my life,” said Hodges, whose comments were reported by the NHL website.
The Ducks savior allowed one goal on three shots in a 4-2 loss to the Stars.
The Briton, who moved to Dallas aged 11, played his last season at High School level in 2012. He also played in the ECHL in the 2016-17 season, again as a goaltender. emergency.
“I train with [les Stars] a few times a month. I haven’t met all of them, but they all seem like good guys,” Hodges said of those he played against on Friday night.