Scott Foster (born January 17, 1982) is a
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
accountant and amateur
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...
player. He appeared in one game for the
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division i ...
of the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
(NHL) near the end of the
2017–18 season as an emergency
goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender (commonly referred to as the goalie) is the player responsible for preventing the hockey puck from entering their team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender mostly plays in or near t ...
following injuries to the team's starting and backup goaltenders, becoming the first emergency goaltender to be called into a game due to injuries in recent years.
Playing career
College
Foster played junior hockey with the
Petrolia Jets
The Petrolia Jets were a junior ice hockey team based in Petrolia, Ontario, Canada. They played in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, the Western Ontario Hockey League, and the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League.
...
of the
Western Ontario Hockey League
The Western Ontario Hockey League (WOHL) was a junior hockey, junior ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association from 1969 until 2007. In 2007, the league became a division of the newly formed Greater Ontari ...
in the 2001–02 season.
He then moved on to play for
Western Michigan University's hockey team in the 2002–03, 2003–04, and 2005–06
Central Collegiate Hockey Association
The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) is a college athletic conference that participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. The current CCHA began play in the 2021–22 season; a previous incarnation, which the curr ...
seasons.
He played in tandem with Mike Mantua in 2002–03, playing 21 games to Mantua's 26 and recording a 7–8–2 record with a .868 save percentage. His next year was more successful as he served as the team's starting goaltender, playing 33 games and recording an .881 percentage. His final stint with the team was less successful, as he played just one game in 2005-06, allowing three goals on seven shots in just one period of play.
Chicago Blackhawks
Foster was signed by the
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division i ...
to an
amateur tryout contract on the eve of their March 29, 2018, game against the
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference, and is owned by True North Sports & Entertainment, pl ...
when the presumed starter
Anton Forsberg
Anton Forsberg (born 27 November 1992) is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the seventh round (188th overall) of the 2011 NHL ...
was sidelined by injury. Forsberg himself had become the Blackhawks starting goaltender after
Corey Crawford
Corey Crawford (born December 31, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Crow" by teammates and fans, he played his entire professional career with the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL), w ...
suffered a season-ending concussion. Foster had gone to 15 games as an emergency goaltender prior to this game, but never dressed. Serving as the Blackhawks' emergency backup goaltender for the game, Foster was not expected to play, considering his lack of high-level experience and the fact that only one goaltender of his kind had suited up for NHL action in recent years:
Jorge Alves, who made his seven-second
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference, ...
debut at the end of a game in December 2016.
However, before the mid-way mark of the third period, Blackhawks starter
Collin Delia
Collin Delia (born June 20, 1994) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who currently is playing for the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey Leag ...
, who was also making his NHL debut that night, was injured, forcing Foster into NHL action for his debut.
He saved seven shots out of seven
in about 14 minutes of play, becoming the first emergency goaltender to ever stop a shot,
and preserving a 6–2 Blackhawks' win. Although Delia was credited with the win, Foster was named the game's
first star.
Asked about his performance following his NHL debut, Foster quipped, "I think I'm just hitting my prime." Assuming Foster does not play again in the NHL, he is one of 18 players since 1982 to record a perfect 1.000 save percentage in the league.
For the game Foster received "Just
beer league
''Artie Lange's Beer League'' (also known simply as ''Beer League'') is a 2006 American comedy film written and produced by, and starring, Artie Lange. It was released in select theaters on September 15, 2006 in the New Jersey, New York, Cleveland ...
glory", he said.
He kept his game-worn jersey but no other compensation; under the terms of the NHL collective bargaining agreement, players signed to amateur tryout contracts like Foster are unpaid for their services.
Foster appeared at the 2018 NHL Award Ceremony, where he and
Jim Belushi
James Adam Belushi (; born June 15, 1954) is an American actor. He is best known for the role of Jim on the sitcom ''According to Jim'' (2001–2009). His other television roles include ''Saturday Night Live'' (1983–1985), '' Total Security'' ...
presented the
Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's (NHL) goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the thirty-two NHL general managers vote to determine the winner. It is named in ...
to
Pekka Rinne
Pekka Rinne (; born 3 November 1982) is a Finnish former professional hockey goaltender. Drafted by the Nashville Predators in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Rinne became their starting goaltender during the 2008–09 season and quickly established ...
. Previously, he was voted the "Best NHL First" at the Blackhawks Fan Choice Awards.
During the
2018–19 season, Foster was asked to be an occasional second goalie for the Blackhawks optional morning skate.
Personal life
Foster lives in
Oak Park, Illinois
Oak Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, adjacent to Chicago. It is the 29th-most populous municipality in Illinois with a population of 54,583 as of the 2020 U.S. Census estimate. Oak Park was first settled in 1835 and later incorporated in ...
, and works as an accountant with
Golub Capital
Golub Capital is a credit asset manager based in the United States with over $40 billion of capital under management. The firm has primary business lines in middle market lending, late stage lending, and broadly syndicated loans. The firm is ...
. He was previously with Aurora Investment Management.
He plays for two beer league hockey teams as a goaltender. After his turn in the NHL, the
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. The league consists of 16 active teams located in the midwestern United States, for players between the ages of 16 and 21. The USHL is strictly ...
’s
Chicago Steel
The Chicago Steel are members of the United States Hockey League, joining the league in 2000. The Steel have played their home games at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Illinois, since 2015; previously, the team played at Edge Ice Arena in Bense ...
offered to hire him as their "emergency accountant" and hoped to host him at their final home game to conduct the ceremonial puck drop. Foster declined further interviews the next months, preferring to "prioritize his family and work following his NHL stint", even as interview requests came from as far away as Turkey. However, he eventually acquiesced and agreed to be interviewed by ESPN in April 2019.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
See also
*
David Ayres
David Ayres (; born August 12, 1977) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender and current Head Coach of the Port Perry Lumberjacks of the Provincial Junior Hockey League. He achieved fame as the first emergency backup goaltender ...
– Zamboni driver and Carolina Hurricanes emergency goalie who appeared in a 2020 game, becoming the first emergency goalie to record a win in an NHL game
*
Tom Hodges – Backup goalie and life insurance salesman who played for the Anaheim Ducks on April 30, 2022
*
Lester Patrick
Curtis Lester Patrick (December 31, 1883 – June 1, 1960) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach associated with the Victoria Aristocrats/Cougars of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (Western Hockey League after 1924), and ...
– former New York Rangers coach who, at age 44, played in the 1928 Stanley Cup Finals for the team as an emergency goalie
*
Eric Semborski – Philadelphia Flyers emergency goalie, whose substitution was attempted in 2017, but was removed by the referee as the primary goalie was not injured
*
Jerry Toppazzini
Jerry "Topper" Toppazzini (July 29, 1931 — April 21, 2012) was a Canadian ice hockey forward who played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League, most notably for the Boston Bruins, between 1952 and 1964. A skilled defensive specialist and ...
– Boston Bruins right winger, who in 1960 was the last position player to substitute as a goalie
*
Ryan Vinz
Ryan Vinz (born August 30, 1985) is an American video technician, best known for his one-game " cup of coffee" on the active roster of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. He currently serves as a goaltending coach for the Buffalo Be ...
– Buffalo Sabres video technician and practice goalie who served as an emergency goalie in 2014 but did not play
*
List of players who played only one game in the NHL
This is a list of ice hockey players who have played only one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1917–18 to the present. This list does not count those who were on the active roster for one game but never actually played, or players w ...
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foster, Scott
1982 births
Living people
Canadian accountants
Canadian ice hockey goaltenders
Chicago Blackhawks players
Ice hockey people from Ontario
Sportspeople from Sarnia
Undrafted National Hockey League players
Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey players