The unique phenomenon of emergency backup goaltenders (EBUGs), who step in when a team`s primary goalies are unavailable, has given rise to legendary stories in hockey. Memorable instances include former Zamboni driver David Ayres leading his team to victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and accountant Scott Foster securing a win for Chicago.
However, the landscape for EBUGs is set to change with the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) taking effect in the 2026-27 season. This new rule mandates that each NHL team will employ a dedicated, full-time traveling replacement goalie, ending the era of spontaneous call-ups.
Initial Reactions to the Change
A wave of nostalgia is sweeping through the close-knit community of EBUGs, a tradition that traces its roots back to the league`s early days a century ago.
“I like that the EBUG position got so much attention over the last five, six years,” Ayres said. “There’s no other position in sports like it. It kind of sucks that it’s going away in a sense. I know there are a lot of guys on the EBUG lists that were hoping to get their shot at playing in a game, but I think it’s smart.`”
Scott Foster, another celebrated EBUG, shared his gratitude and pride for his own opportunity, suggesting future generations might find different forms of luck.
“Like most things, change is inevitable,” Foster said. “The EBUG role maybe outgrew the current model, as it seems like you see more and more times popping up.`
The allure of an EBUG appearing in a game stems from its extreme rarity; only six instances have occurred in over 13,000 regular-season games in the last decade, with no modern-era playoff appearances.
Initial news of the impending changes sparked a flurry of reactions within the EBUG community`s group chats. Tyler Stewart, who warmed up for St. Louis in 2017, recalled the general unhappiness, with comments like, “It was a good run, fellas.”
Justin Goldman, a former Colorado Avalanche EBUG and founder of the Goalie Guild developmental program, explained the practical necessity for a third goalie. He noted that the increasing speed and physical demands of the sport, coupled with the need for more rest and rigorous practice, highlighted a clear need for teams to have dedicated backup support.
Despite the pragmatic reasons, many lament the potential loss of what has been one of hockey`s most cherished and unique traditions: the spontaneous call-up of an amateur from the stands. Ben Hause, an EBUG for eight seasons in Colorado, voiced his concern:
“The EBUG position is the most universally loved and cool story in all of sports… I don’t love the fact that what was kind of the last real wholesome story in the sports world is potentially going away.”
The Evolving Role: End of an Era?
While the traditional EBUG role is evolving, it won`t disappear entirely. The memorandum of understanding for the new labor agreement outlines specific criteria for these emergency goalies: they cannot have more than 80 professional games of experience, must not have played pro hockey in the preceding three seasons, nor signed a standard (non-tryout) NHL contract.
Even under these new rules, a retired veteran like three-time Stanley Cup champion Marc-Andre Fleury couldn`t fulfill his humorous wish to be an EBUG for Minnesota. However, the guidelines still permit fairytale moments, albeit with less anonymity.
Connor Beaupre, a Minnesota EBUG and son of former NHL goaltender Don Beaupre, shared his enthusiasm for the unique experiences, such as warming up or backing up games. He acknowledged, however, the rarity of such opportunities, making them difficult to anticipate.
The announcement of the rule change brought mixed reactions, from confusion to optimistic delusion among some EBUGs. Kyle Konin, a Tampa-based goalie who has dressed for multiple NHL teams, was approached by equipment managers suggesting the change could benefit him. Konin, who works as a goalie mask painter, voiced the widespread uncertainty:
“I’m like, does this mean I’m out of a job, or does this mean I’m going to get paid a salary to do basically the same thing? Every team’s completely different with the current system that we have, so even moving forward, no one even really knows.`”
The Future of Goaltending Support
NHL organizations now have over a year to adapt to the new rule, which supersedes the 2017 policy. Since 2017, only five EBUGs—Ayres, Foster, Tom Hodges, Jett Alexander, and Matt Berlin—have actually played in a game. Their combined ice time, totaling just over 65 minutes across eight regular seasons, represents a minuscule fraction (less than 0.0001%) of total goaltender playing time. Ben Hause expressed surprise at the owners` willingness to incur significant additional costs for what essentially serves as an “insurance policy” with minimal on-ice impact.
This change likely prioritizes practice time. Unanswered questions persist regarding the financial implications of maintaining a dedicated third goalie on the roster, including travel expenses across North America for both male and female candidates. The CBA does permit these new EBUGs to hold additional team roles, potentially allowing individuals like Carolina`s equipment manager Jorge Alves or Washington`s assistant and video coach Brett Leonhardt to return to the ice in a similar capacity.
Indeed, the role could evolve into a dual function within coaching or hockey operations. Justin Goldman sees this as an opportunity for organizations to:
“…groom not just a practice goalie but you can groom a video coach, you can groom a future goalie coach. It’s an opportunity for someone to come in, learn the system, understand the strategies and the style of play of that organization and learn about what happens in the coaches’ room.”
Goldman further speculates that this move towards third goalies is merely a precursor to future practice squads, akin to the NFL`s model, as the NHL continues to emphasize speed, rest, and recovery. This evolution, he suggests, may be a topic for future labor negotiations, marking a bittersweet close to a unique chapter in EBUG history.
Kyle Konin summed up the sentiment, saying:
“I was one of the few guys who got to kind of live out their dream for a little bit. It’s sad, but it’s also kind of a cool way to just say that you were part of one of the rarest things in all of pro sports.”
Duncan Priestley