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Infamous emergency goalie David Ayres signs new hockey contract

Originally posted on Hockey Unplugged | By Axel Williams | Last updated 10/6/24

David Ayres is a name that stokes fear in the hearts of Toronto Maple Leafs fans as he is the one who completely destroyed them in relief for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Back in 2020, just weeks before the pandemic ended the season, Ayres was the Zamboni driver for the Maple Leafs. When both goaltenders on the Hurricanes went down with injuries, Ayres was forced to come into the game. While he was shakey at first, allowing two goals, he came back and made huge saves down the stretch. Eventually, the Hurricanes won the game by a score of 6-3 and it remains an embarrassing moment for the Leafs franchise.

Now, Ayres is 47 years old and hasn't really been relevant in terms of the professional hockey landscape. Seldom is the case for emergency backup goaltenders. Having said that, it would appear as though Ayres has just found himself a gig in the Ontario Super Hockey League, or OSHL for short.

According to Puck Empire, he is going to be playing for the Richmond Hill Coyotes. It is a cool opportunity, and he will certainly be one of the few players in the league with NHL experience. In fact, he may just be a bit of a celebrity in that locker room.