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.
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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.
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