‘I think we were literally watching that guy’s dream come true right before our eyes’
The Hurricanes found themselves in a pinch when Lack fell ill before
Saturday night’s game at Tampa Bay. Roughly two hours before the puck
drop, they announced the signing of Alves to a professional tryout
contract and issued him jersey No. 40. His mask – which he painted
himself, based on drawings by a local illustrator – features caricatures
of the team’s other equipment men.
“I think we were literally watching that guy’s dream come true right before our eyes,” starter Cam Ward
said. “Seeing how emotional he got before that game made everybody
emotional. And I said to him right before the game, `They don’t ask how
or why, but you made it to the NHL.”‘
Ward bucked the tradition of having the starting goalie lead the team
onto the ice for pregame warmups, letting Alves have the spotlight for
himself. And with 7.6 seconds left and the outcome all but decided – the
Lightning led 3-1 – coach Bill Peters sent Alves onto the ice to
replace Ward. He didn’t have to face a shot but was handed the puck by
teammate Jeff Skinner.
“Every time I see it, I kind of get choked up,” Alves said. “Seven-point-six seconds is going to be near and dear to me.”
A repeat doesn’t seem likely Tuesday night when New Jersey visits:
Peters says if Lack is too sick to skate against the Devils, the team
will recall someone from its AHL affiliate in Charlotte.
That seems fine with Alves, who joked with alternate captain Jordan Staal that the Hurricanes’ shooters weren’t about to take it easy on him during his first practice since his big debut.
“I told Jordan, ‘It was only 7.6 seconds, guys,”‘ Alves said. “I’m not an NHLer.”
(NBCSports.com)
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