Ottawa's Anthony Kervin lived a 24-hour NHL dream as the Maple Leafs' emergency goalie
Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Anthony Kervin was signed as Anthony Stolarz's went down injured ahead of Saturday's game, and though he didn't play; he got a lifetime wish fulfilled.
After Stolarz took a shot to the throat courtesy of William Nylander, that meant the Maple Leafs only had Joseph Woll between the pipes. That led to them signing NHPL goaltender Anthony Kervin as an EBUG (Emergency Back-Up Goaltender).
Local Legend: Kervin lives out his NHL dream despite never taking the ice
He didn't play, and was part of a 5-2 loss to the Senators, but for the Ottawa native it was a dream come true. Toronto unfortunately did end up releasing him from his ATO on Sunday, and there is no current plans to bring him back in any capacity.
Though for the Carleton University student, he did get to fulfill something that most hockey athletes dream about: Joining an NHL team. Albeit under weird circumstances, Kervin is able to tell people he was signed to the Maple Leafs - and that's a huge bragging right.
He last played sanctioned league hockey with the NPHL (Northern Premier Hockey League) in 2024-25 with the Arnprior Rivermen and spent four years at Niagara University where he appeared in six games (5-0-0).
Kervin's release means the focus is on the bigger picture in the crease
The Maple Leafs releasing Kervin doesn't necessarily spell the end of professional hockey, and while he has seemingly taken a year off this season. He could feel motivated to come back but clearly was a last resort due to a scrambling Maple Leafs team.
It does however mean that Anthony Stolarz might be doing better than anticipated, and the fact he was able to make the plane ride back with the team is a very positive sign.
At least they were able to have someone like Kervin available in case Joseph Woll went down, and considering the combination of injury history plus a feisty battle between Ottawa and Toronto - Woll definitely needed the backup.
For just a solitary night, Anthony Kervin was a Toronto Maple Leaf. Not many people can say that - and nobody can ever take it away from him.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
A disaster avoided: Anthony Stolarz avoids serious injury as Nylander's 'Sniper's Tax' history repeats itself
A disaster avoided: Anthony Stolarz avoids serious injury as Nylander's 'Sniper's Tax' history repeats itself
Previously on Hockey Patrol
| POLL | ||
MARS 22|689 ANSWERS Ottawa's Anthony Kervin lived a 24-hour NHL dream as the Maple Leafs' emergency goalie Did the Maple Leafs make the right call by signing Anthony Kervin as an EBUG? | ||
| Yes | 433 | 62.8 % |
| No | 256 | 37.2 % |
| List of polls | ||