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𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Edmonton Oilers Sign Mysterious Zamboni Driver as Backup Goalie After Surprise Tryout Performance Shocks NHL World

Edmonton, AB — July 6, 2025

In a twist so unexpected it sounds more like a scene from a Hollywood sports comedy than a real-life NHL event, the Edmonton Oilers have officially signed a mysterious Zamboni driver—known only by his first name, “Mick”—as the team’s emergency backup goalie (EBUG) for the remainder of the 2025 NHL season.

The announcement, made at a hastily called press conference at Rogers Place, sent shockwaves through the hockey world and lit up social media as fans tried to make sense of how a man responsible for smoothing the ice between periods had suddenly become the last line of defense for one of the NHL’s most storied franchises.

From Ice Technician to Ice Guardian

According to team sources, the bizarre saga began just two nights ago during an after-hours charity scrimmage involving Oilers staff and alumni. When the scheduled goalie failed to show, Mick, a quiet Zamboni driver who had worked behind the scenes for three seasons, offered to “hop in net” just to keep the game going.

What happened next defied logic.

“He was making saves that shouldn’t even be physically possible,” said retired Oilers legend Ryan Smyth, who participated in the scrimmage. “We thought it was a fluke until he did it again. And again. Butterfly saves. Stack-the-pad kickouts. He even pulled off a two-pad windmill. It was… otherworldly.”

Video footage from the game, which has since gone viral, shows the unassuming Mick stopping slapshots from point-blank range and executing highlight-reel glove saves—wearing a mismatched set of vintage goalie pads and what appeared to be a Jason Voorhees mask.

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed during the press conference that the coaching staff invited Mick to a closed-door tryout the next day “just to see if the performance was real.” He reportedly faced 150 shots from Oilers players, including Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl—and stopped 139 of them.

“He’s Got That Something You Can’t Teach”

“We couldn’t believe what we were seeing,” Knoblauch told reporters. “He’s raw, sure, but he reads the play like a seasoned vet. His positioning is unorthodox, but it works. He anticipates rushes better than some guys with ten years of pro experience. Bottom line: the guy can flat-out stop pucks.”

Asked about his playing history, Mick offered only vague responses. “Played a little beer league. Did some shinny in Yellowknife. Nothing serious.” When pressed further about his identity, he grinned and said, “Let’s just say I’ve been around the game a long time—on the quiet side.”

He declined to give his full name and requested that the jersey simply read “MICK” on the back.

In an unexpected turn, team management honored the request.

Contract Details & NHL Reaction

Mick’s contract is a unique one. Officially signed as an Emergency Backup Goalie (EBUG), his deal includes a base salary of $100,000 with performance bonuses for each game dressed. The Oilers confirmed he will be eligible to suit up immediately should either of the team’s two primary goalies—Stuart Skinner or Olivier Rodrigue—be unavailable.

The NHL has approved the contract, noting that all league EBUG requirements were met.

Hockey fans will remember the 2020 story of David Ayres, a Zamboni driver turned emergency goaltender who won a game for the Carolina Hurricanes. But unlike Ayres, Mick has been described by multiple sources as “a different beast altogether.”

TSN analyst Ray Ferraro called the signing “the most chaotic and beautiful thing the league has done in years.”

Locker Room Buzz

Inside the Oilers’ locker room, the players have embraced their new teammate.

“Mick’s a legend already,” said forward Zach Hyman. “Quiet dude. Drinks black coffee. Reads goalie manuals from the ’70s. The other day he gave McDavid advice on breakaway dekes. And it actually worked.”

Connor McDavid added, “He’s… spooky good. I don’t know where he came from, but I’m glad he’s on our side.”

According to reports, Mick still insists on driving the Zamboni between practices. “It’s meditative,” he told a team staffer.

Fans Go Wild for the Man Behind the Mask

As word spread of the signing, the Oilers team store was inundated with orders for jerseys reading “MICK #00.” A grassroots movement on X (formerly Twitter) under the hashtag #MickTheBrick has been trending worldwide, and fans have started showing up to Rogers Place wearing goalie masks and fake mustaches in tribute.

Some fans speculate that Mick might actually be a retired goalie under an alias, citing his composure and rare technique. Others suggest he’s part of an elaborate marketing campaign for an upcoming Netflix docuseries. The team has denied both.

Whatever the truth, one thing is certain: