Dave Nozzolillo, a 45-year-old banker from Orland Park, Illinois, had an ordinary Friday until a frantic call changed everything. Working from home at Wintrust Bank, he grabbed lunch at the nearby Hooters—opting for naked wings and fries as his “pregame meal.” Little did he know, it would fuel one of the most surreal nights of his life.
By evening, Nozzolillo found himself dressing as the emergency backup goalie (EBUG) for the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. With starters Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom sidelined by a vicious flu bug, the team turned to their designated standby—a beer-league goalie with Division III college experience.
An ordinary day turns extraordinary
Nozzolillo’s routine shattered around 5 p.m. He missed the first call from Blackhawks hockey operations contact Danny Tranchida, who then delivered the news: both goalies were out. “Hey, Spencer Knight has the flu too,” Tranchida said. “We need you to get there early. You’re going to dress.”
Rushing home, Nozzolillo discovered his gear soaking in the washing machine. A quick dryer tumble and a 30-minute drive later, he arrived at the arena. En route, a text confirmed his jersey spelling—“Oh s---, it’s happening,” he recalled.
The locker room hit like a whirlwind. Equipment staff swarmed him with offers: socks, skate sharpening, water. Cameras rolled as players introduced themselves. Nozzolillo signed a one-day amateur tryout contract for $0, tweaking errors like his birthdate and catching hand—left to right. He even overlooked “Dave” instead of “David,” a pet peeve. “I was just trying to stay in the moment,” he said.
Overwhelmed but focused, Nozzolillo suited up. His background? A former Lake Forest College goalie who “rode the pine” and quit junior year. Now, he fills in for Chicago-area beer leagues, including over-40 elites. For four years, he’s been one of the Blackhawks’ four EBUGs, earning $100 per call-up to watch games.
This night, though, backup Drew Commesso from the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs would start, leaving Nozzolillo on the bench.
Flu ravages the Blackhawks locker room
The NHL’s compressed schedule ahead of a three-week Olympic break amplified flu season woes. Stomach bugs humble even the toughest players—no gutting through them, doctors say. Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill called it “as bad as I’ve seen,” ripping through the room “guy by guy.”
Already missing four players including Soderblom, the team recalled Commesso. Knight arrived sick, got sent home, thrusting the 23-year-old into a start against Alex Ovechkin’s Capitals—with just one prior NHL appearance. “It was a very, very tough spot for Drew,” GM Kyle Davidson noted.
Nozzolillo understood the stakes: EBUGs stay in net “as many goals you let in,” no early pulls unless forced. “My understanding was, if you weren’t puking, you were playing,” he quipped.
The illness persisted. During intermission, Nozzolillo panicked seeing Commesso’s gear abandoned—skates, pads, pants—while the goalie vanished briefly post-bathroom (where another Hawk retched). “Is he hurt? Sick? Am I playing?” he wondered. Commesso reappeared; Nozzolillo offered, “Nice period, keep it up.”
Warmups and bench life
NHL warmups follow rigid timing. Goalies exit after one drill as 20 skaters fire pucks. Nozzolillo, unaware, stepped in anyway—like Goldberg from The Mighty Ducks facing a barrage. “He took it like a champ,” defenseman Connor Murphy laughed. “If you’re going to get the chance, you want some NHL shots.”
His stick tape emerged unmarked—no puck dings despite top-corner tries. “I still made some good saves,” Nozzolillo said.
The game? A 5-1 loss to Washington. Nozzolillo stayed calm, observing from the bench. Defenseman Alex Vlasic spotted EBUG legend Scott Foster at morning skate: “Like seeing a celebrity… the guy who stopped a one-timer from Patrik Laine.”
Post-game, the team rushed for a Nashville flight. Nozzolillo fielded 300 texts. Commesso started Saturday, earning a 37-save shutout—his first NHL win.
The quirky world of EBUGs
EBUGs are an NHL staple since 2016, born from the Panthers’ 2015 dual-goalies-down scare. Better a goalie with experience than a position player risking injury.
Fame moments include Zamboni driver David Ayers’ 2020 Hurricanes win and accountant Scott Foster’s 2019 Jets shutout—14 minutes, seven saves amid tax season. Foster even drilled Blackhawks that morning.
Nozzolillo joins a family of netminders—two brothers, nieces Isabel and Adelyn. “This puts to bed who the best goalie is,” he joked.
For more on Foster’s legendary stint, check this recap.
The end of an era looms
Nozzolillo’s adventure may be among the last. The 2026-27 CBA ends traditional EBUGs, mandating full-time traveling replacement goalies—no NHL experience, limited pro games.
Teams eye juniors or college vets for dual roles like equipment or comms. “Far more related to other things,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly emailed. Salary? Club decisions.
Nozzolillo has two more call-ups this season—likely uneventful. “People would die to be in that role. It’s not glamorous, but it’s something.”
Details on the Blackhawks’ flu saga and Nozzolillo’s backup duty appear in this RMNB piece.
Nozzolillo’s story embodies hockey’s magic—everyman heroes amid chaos. As EBUGs fade, they’ll live on in lore, reminding us anyone can answer the bell. For Blackhawks fans, it’s a tale of resilience amid illness, with Commesso’s shutout providing silver lining. What moments define your fandom?
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.