Šestindridesetleni računovodja Scott Foster je zadnjo tekmovalno tekmo odigral leta 2005, ko je zaključil svojo športno pot na univerzi Michigan. Ducat let kasneje so se mu izpolnile sanje, zaigral je na tekmi lige NHL in jo oddelal brez prejetega zadetka.
"Še pred nekaj urami sem sedel za računalnikom in tipkal, zdaj pa stojim pred vami po 14 minutah in pol igranja v ligi NHL," je po tekmi novinarjem dejal Foster.
Foster je bil na poti v dvorano United Centre, kjer so se Chicago Blackhawks pomerili s trenutno eno najboljših ekip v ligi NHL Winnipeg Jets, ko je prejel klic in začele so se uresničevati njegove sanje. Foster je eden izmed skupine amaterskih vratarjev, ki so v rotaciji za domače tekme Chicaga in lahko zaigrajo, če ima katera od ekip velike težave z vratarji.
V Igro je vstopil 14:01 pred koncem dvoboja. "Vedno obstaja možnost. Prideš na veliko tekem, fantje pa se poškodujejo, a si ne predstavljaš, da se bo to zgodilo ravno tebi. Velik šok je bil, ko sem se moral obleči. Od takrat naprej je v mojem spominu le še tema," pravi nepričakovani junak.
Pred 21.839 gledalci je nato zaustavil vseh sedem strelov, ki so jih gostje usmerili na njegov gol, Chicago Blackhawks pa so na koncu slavili s 6:2.
Množica je ob njegovih uspešnih obrambah vzklikala njegovo ime. "Sem pravzaprav v najboljših letih," se je pošalil Foster. "Jutri se bom zbudil, zapel srajco in odšel v službo. Je pa to nekaj, kar nikoli ne bom pozabil. To so bile moje sanje."
Izbran je bil za igralca tekme, po njej pa je z odgovori navdušil tako navijače in novinarje. Na vprašanje, kaj bo dejal kolegom v službi, je odgovoril takole: "Rekel jim bom, da sem zbral 30 obramb in da smo slavili z 1:0."
Hilarious post-game interview from 36-year-old Scott Foster, who was called into action as the Blackhawks Emergency Backup Goaltender tonight pic.twitter.com/p4ExOQz8oA
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) March 30, 2018
Je dobil kakšen nasvet pred odhodom na led. "Ničesar nisem slišal, razen tega, da naj si nadenem čelado." Ste slišali gledalce, ki so se smejali, ko ste stopili v gol? "Tudi sam bi se!"
Tonight's belt winner... who else?
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 30, 2018
Mr. Scott Foster! #WhatsYourGoal pic.twitter.com/XAUnOhNrHP
Seveda so se ob enem izmed vrhuncev sezone za Chicago odzvali tudi ljubitelji hokeja.
Career Save Percentage:
— Future Of The Six (@FutureOfThe6) March 30, 2018
Scott Foster 1.000
Dominik Hasek .922
Carey Price .919
Martin Brodeur .912
Jets lucky Chicago is missing the playoffs so they don't have to face Scott Foster in a 7 game series.
— Wyatt Arndt (@TheStanchion) March 30, 2018
Scott Foster will retire from the NHL as the Chicago Blackhawks all-time franchise leader in save percentage!
— Greg Boysen 🏒🍺 (@GregBoysen) March 30, 2018
“Well the initial shock happened when I had to dress, and then I think you just kind of black out after that.”
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 30, 2018
Emergency goalie Scott Foster reflects on his @NHL debut. #FosterOfThePeople pic.twitter.com/6MZs61fnfS
The United Center in Chicago is chanting "Fos-ter, Fos-ter" for Scott Foster, the team's emergency third goalie who has stopped Paul Stastny and Dustin Byfgulien in succession.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 30, 2018
Sports photo of the year? From @johnnysicehouse (where Scott Foster plays in men's leagues), some rec league players watching Foster play for the Blackhawks. pic.twitter.com/6CbLIAE56k
— Andy Glockner (@AndyGlockner) March 30, 2018
Scott Foster needs a movie made about this. And he should get to play himself. https://t.co/ZlucNiDLIX
— Long Weight McGee (@IHearNoir) March 30, 2018
I am a Penguins fan and a Crosby fan, but even I can smile and appreciate that, on https://t.co/Va8ccqbDe4 this morning, Sidney is only the #2 most searched name, under... Scott Foster.
— Syracuse BabyBolts (@SyrBabyBolts) March 30, 2018
If you don’t know what I am talking about yet, Google the name Scott Foster. It’s worth it.
Scott Foster...an inspiration to all of his accountant brethren https://t.co/aYU7xDih08
— Gerard (@GBirm88) March 30, 2018