ST. PAUL, Minn. – Paul Deutsch’s pals in his recreational hockey league needed to find a replacement goalie Wednesday night. The 51-year-old embroidery shop owner was going to be suiting up for another team: The NHL’s Minnesota Wild.
The Wild signed Deutsch to an amateur tryout contract to serve as an emergency backup to starter Josh Harding for Wednesday’s game against the Nashville Predators.
“Actually giving up my Wednesday night game,” Deutsch said. “We play at Bloomington Ice Gardens at 9:45 p.m. till they turn the lights off. Tonight’s the night. I can’t make it.”
Deutsch was signed after Niklas Backstrom was declared out for personal reasons. Matt Hackett was recalled from Houston, but his flight wasn’t scheduled to land in the Twin Cities until about 6:30 p.m. and, with the holiday traffic, Minnesota couldn’t take any chances of being short a goaltender.
Deutsch’s improbable shot at playing in an NHL game ended almost as quickly as it started, though. Hackett arrived at the arena just before the 7 p.m. game time and Deutsch was scratched.
Wearing a pair of former Wild goaltender Manny Fernandez’s pads, Deutsch participated in pregame warmups.
“Pretty nervous and I just want to make sure I don’t do anything stupid,” Deutsch
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