Longtime equipment manager Jorge Alves returns to the crease as Carolina’s emergency backup, securing a unique roster spot thanks to a special league exception.
The Carolina Hurricanes announced their EBUG for the 2026-27 season and it is a familiar face indeed.
Head equipment manager Jorge Alves, who has been with the team since 2003, has been named as the Hurricanes' emergency third goalie for the upcoming season, adding another hat to a key member of the staff.
"What he's meant to this organization and what he does... MacIver, that series, that's Jorge Alves," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "Literally, if you need something done, it can literally be your car, and he's got it. Obviously with equipment too, but then also if you need a guy to go out there and skate and be a goalie, he does that too. He's maybe one of the most valuable guys around in this organization. And then to boot, he's just an awesome guy."
Starting this year, every NHL club is required to supply and travel their own emergency backup netminder.
While those players were required to not have more than 80 games of professional experience, have played within the last three years, and also have zero games of NHL experience, the league seems to have made an exception for Alves, who is technically an NHL alumni.
Alves made his NHL debut on Dec. 31, 2016, coming in for the final 7.6 seconds of a regular season game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The team's longtime equipment manager, who had previously played as high as the ECHL level, signed a professional tryout contract that day after netminder Eddie Lack fell ill before the game and backed up starter Cam Ward.
Nothing happened to Ward, but the team wanted to reward Alves for his years of hard work and gave him the chance to take the ice for real.
Alves didn't see a shot in the game and now also holds the record for the shortest career and single-game appearance for a goalie in NHL history.
The 47-year-old is no stranger to taking the net, having frequently filled in at practices for the team whenever they've been in need of a second goaltender and he should serve well in that role.
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