(Carolina Hurricanes/Twitter)

By CKOM News

Overnight hockey celebrity David Ayres to appear at Blades-Pats game in Saskatoon

Feb 27, 2020 | 9:22 AM

Zamboni driver-turned-goalie hero David Ayres is coming to Saskatoon.

The 42-year-old Toronto man will be joining the Saskatoon Blades for their March 6 home game against the Regina Pats, coinciding with the team’s “WHL Suits Up” night for organ donation. Ayres was the recipient of a kidney transplant 15 years ago.

He’ll be on hand for the ceremonial puck drop, and will also sign autographs for fans.

Ayres has been the talk of the hockey world since defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs as an emergency goaltender for the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.

He entered the game in the second period after goalies Petr Mrazek and James Reimer went down with injuries, and let in goals on the first two shots he faced.

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However, he shut the door in the third and stopped all seven shots the Leafs directed at him, helping Carolina post a 6-3 victory.

The former Zamboni driver, who occasionally practises with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies as a goaltender, was tasked with being the emergency goalie for both the Leafs and Hurricanes during the game.

Since his performance, Ayres has appeared on dozens of radio stations and talk shows, including Good Morning America and the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

He was a guest of honour at Tuesday’s Hurricanes home game, where dozens of fans gathered to sign his game-day jersey. The Canes are also selling jersey T-shirts with his name on them, giving him royalties on the sales.