'Every kid’s dream is to play in the NHL': Flames emergency back-up goalie Dustin Nickel called for duty, nearly called upon in clash with Vegas

It wasn’t long before it nearly became a true emergency for Dustin Nickel and the Calgary Flames.

Nickel, regularly an emergency back-up goalie when the Flames are in action at home, was pressed into actual back-up duty for Monday’s clash with the Vegas Golden Knights because Jacob Markstrom was ill.

(Because of how late Markstrom and the Flames realized he couldn’t play, the club could not summon top prospect Dustin Wolf from the AHL Wranglers, even though he was in town.)

Only a few minutes into the clash, all eyes in the Saddledome and those watching on TV were on Nickel after starter Dan Vladar was bowled over by Golden Knights forward William Carrier.

Nickel, the 32-year-old former Calgary Canucks and Mount Royal University goaltender who has been pressed into duty at Flames practices when called upon, did all he could to look calm on the bench while Vladar was tended.

“There was so much going through my head at that point,” Nickel told the assembled media post-game.

“I was hoping he would get up … especially when you look up and there’s 55 minutes left in the game.”

Nickel, who owns a construction business and is a goalie coach, remained on the bench and had the best seat in the house while Vladar delivered his best performance of the season in Calgary’s 2-1 overtime victory over the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Even so, it was the experience of a lifetime for Nickel, coming after he was alerted a couple of hours before the puck dropped, raced to the rink and was signed to an amateur contract.

“It’s such a cool opportunity to be here,” said Nickel, who couldn’t stop smiling afterward. “I know every kid’s dream is to play in the NHL and if this is the opportunity to do that and skate with these guys, it’s just pretty special.”

Nickel is no stranger to the Flames — in fact, he suffered a torn groin last season while being put through the paces in a lengthy shooter’s drill — and that familiarity made his time all the more special for him and the NHLers.

“The morale goes up when you see Dusty come in, the smiles get picked up and you’re making it a special night for him,” said defenceman MacKenzie Weegar, the overtime hero.

“The guys love Dusty,” coach Ryan Huska added. “Dusty comes out with us a fair bit whenever we need to rest a goalie, or if we have someone that needs some extra time. They love having him around. It was a pretty cool experience for him, but our players enjoyed it as well.”