The 36-year-old accountant from Oak Park, Illinois has gone to about 15 Chicago Blackhawks games this season as an emergency goaltender.
The first surprise Thursday came when he was about a block away from United Center, when he was told he'd be dressing for the game against the Winnipeg Jets. The second surprise came about six minutes into the third period when starting goaltender Colin Delia was injured and Foster had to go in.
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"I don't think I heard anything other than 'Put your helmet on,'" Foster said.
Foster made seven saves and did not allow a goal playing 14:01 in the 6-2 win. Delia, who left the game with cramping, got the win in his NHL debut by saving 25 of 27 shots. But Foster, who plays in a league at Johnny's IceHouse West, the Blackhawks' former practice rink about a mile from United Center, got an incredible experience.
"I'm an accountant by day," Foster said. "So a few hours ago I was sitting on my computer typing on a 10-key, and now I'm standing in front of you guys just finished 14-1/2 minutes of NHL hockey."
Foster played 55 games for Western Michigan from 2002-06. He is the first emergency goaltender to play in an NHL game since Jorge Alves, an equipment manager for the Carolina Hurricanes, played eight seconds in a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 31, 2016.