He Entered Game an Accountant, Left It a 'Hockey Legend'

Scott Foster shines for Chicago Blackhawks in NHL debut
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 30, 2018 7:03 AM CDT
For One Night, 36-Year-Old Accountant Turned NHL Star
Chicago Blackhawks goalie Scott Foster defends against the Winnipeg Jets during Thursday's game in Chicago.   (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

It's the stuff sports dreams are made of. A hockey player who has never played professionally—he usually shows off his talents in a beer league—not only took the ice for an actual NHL game Thursday but emerged the shining star. Scott Foster, a 36-year-old accountant who played hockey for Western Michigan University in the early to mid-2000s, was acting as the emergency back-up goalie for the Chicago Blackhawks Thursday. Foster had filled this role for about a dozen other games this season, which mostly meant enjoying free food in the United Center press box. This time would be different. Starting goaltender Anton Forsberg suffered a season-ending injury during practice, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. Six minutes into the third period of Thursday's game against the Winnipeg Jets, back-up goalie Collin Delia was injured, too.

"The initial shock happened when I had to dress," says Foster. "And then I think you just kind of black out after that." Apparently blacking out is a good strategy. Foster made his first save after only a minute, reports the AP. With the crowd chanting his name, the father of two went on to stop all seven shots he faced over 14 minutes and one second, for a 6-2 Blackhawks victory. "Foster emerged a hockey legend, delivering a performance that left everyone who watched it in awe," as the Washington Post puts it. For his trouble, Foster was named player of the game and No. 1 star. "Who would have thought? You just keep grinding away in men's league and eventually you get your shot," Foster said after the big game. "This is something that no one can ever take away from me." Now it's time to rest: Foster's beer-league playoffs start next week. (More NHL stories.)

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