When regular Minnesota Wild goalie Nicklas Backstrom had to miss last week's game against the Nashville Predators it put the Wild in a pinch. Backup goaltender Josh Harding got the start when Backstrom's wife went into labor with their first child, but the Wild still needed a backup goaltender. with travel being difficult for Mike Hackett on the day before Thanksgiving, the Wild were forced to call 51-year old Paul Deutsch.

Deutsch is a local senior league goaltender that occasionally practices with the Wild. He was signed to an emergency one day amateur try-out contract and brought to the Xcel Energy Center in case Hackett couldn't make it in time for the game. ESPN's Johnette Howard documented his adventure:

By 3 p.m., Wild goaltending coach Bob Mason had tracked down Deutsch at his shop and a contract was faxed over. "I signed and faxed it right back," Deutsch says. He was told to get to the arena. Now.

Hackett did make it to the game on time and Deutsch wasn't needed, but he now has a great story to tell his grandkids.