Scott Foster becomes widely known after memorable fill-in stint as NHL goalie

On Thursday night in the middle of an NHL game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Winnipeg Jets, an unfamiliar figure in a No. 90 Blackhawks jersey stepped onto the ice at the United Center.

"Hey, who's this guy?" an announcer joked.

That guy was Scott Foster, the team's emergency goalie, a 36-year-old accountant who hadn't played in a competitive hockey game in more than 10 years. He played hockey for Western Michigan University from 2002 to 2005 and plays in recreational "beer leagues." But never in the NHL.

Less than 15 minutes after taking the ice, Foster emerged a hockey legend.

"Scott Foster is officially somehow the most improbable, unlikely story in Chicago sports in March, knocking off Loyola's run to the Final Four. An accountant who plays in a beer league coming in and playing goalie and shutting down an actual NHL team for more than half a period," Matt Lindner wrote on Twitter.

But how did the father of two and recreational player end up trending on Twitter and stealing the spotlight from fellow Blackhawk Brent Seabrook, who played his 1,000th regular-season game that same night?

Foster is one of a small group of "emergency backup" goaltenders who are kept on hand, usually in the press box or the stands, in the highly unlikely event both regular goalies on the roster are hurt or otherwise unavailable.

Hours before the game, goaltender Anton Forsberg injured himself during a morning practice, according to the Chicago Tribune. Down to one goalie, rookie Collin Delia, the Blackhawks signed Foster as an emergency backup.

This isn't the first time Foster has been tapped for the role. In a postgame interview, he said he had been designated as the emergency goalie for 12 or 15 games this season, but his usual duties involved sitting in the press box and taking advantage of the free food.

So imagine his surprise when he learned that Delia — in the midst of his own NHL debut — had suffered an injury in the third period, and he was needed.

"The initial shock happened when I had to dress and then I think you just kind of black out after that," Foster said.

The cameras trained on him as he made his way past a bemused Joel Quenneville, the Blackhawks' coach, and other players. Despite wearing his hockey helmet, his eyes betrayed utter bewilderment.

It turns out no advice was needed.

Foster stopped all seven of the shots he faced in 14 minutes, 1 second. His spotless performance stunned fans and even earned him the team belt, which is awarded to the player of the game.

"This is something that no one can ever take away from me," Foster said. "It's something that I can go home and tell my kids."

In an instant, Foster became an icon for adult recreational hockey players who imagine themselves playing in the NHL.

"Who would have thought?" he said. "You just keep grinding away in men's league and eventually you get your shot."