After all, the youth hockey coach and executive director of a winter festival in Alaska had served as the Aces’ emergency goalie in practices for a quarter of a century.
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What better reward, then, but to put him on the ice for the team’s season finale Saturday night vs. the Colorado Eagles — and let him sink or swim?
Well, Barney answered the call, turning aside 21 of 25 shots.
Unfortunately, his club lost 5-3.
But given the rigors of starting at age 45, we’ll call it a moral victory. Riding an adrenaline high, Barney stopped all 14 shots in the first period. From Yahoo Sports via the Alaska Dispatch News:
Reality set in when the middle-aged rookie let in four goals in the second period.
Barney said he began cramping in the second period – he said his hand cramped on his first postgame autograph, too – and hinted to DeSerres that DeSerres could take over for the third period. No dice.
“I don’t think he was having any of it,’’ Barney said with a grin.
Trenz said the players on the bench noticed that, beginning in the second period, Barney would shake out his fatigued legs occasionally when the puck was at the other end of the ice.
And Breton mused that a full game of professional goaltending is likely to exact a toll.
“He’ll be a little sore tomorrow,’’ Breton said. “He’ll sleep good tonight. I can guarantee that.’’
Barney told TV station KTVA in Alaska his legs were “Jell-O” by that point.
Barney earned respect for his effort. By the end of the game, fans were chanting his name. He told KTVA he’ll gladly serve as the Aces’ emergency backup “as long as they will allow me to, and as long as I am able to stand in the net.”
All I can say is good for him, and good for the Aces for taking care of one of their own.
