Look, David Ayres is already as lucky as a guy can be. A recipient of a donated kidney, I imagine he feels that way, too.
Plus, the guy has everyone’s dream job. No, really. David Ayres drives the Zamboni!
Admit it, you’ve always envied the Zamboni driver. Watch all the games for free. Come out and groom the ice and people cheer. I mean, hey, it’s the Zamboni.
Anyway, David Ayres drives the Zamboni for Toronto. He loves the sport, coaching an amateur team and filling in at Maple Leaf practices. He is even qualified as a substitute player, though he’d never been called upon to play.
Until last night.
A 42-year-old Zamboni driver for the Toronto Maple Leafs won his first NHL game Saturday after being tapped to play as an emergency goalie for the opposing team.
Dave Ayres stepped in for the Carolina Hurricanes after both the team's goalies had to leave the game for injuries, prompting the Zamboni driver to play against his own home team.
The 42-year-old helped the Hurricanes in their 6-3 win by blocking eight of the ten shots on goal against him in the last 30 minutes of the game.
Ayres confessed to having been nervous on the ice, but was encouraged by his new Carolina teammates to loosen up and have fun. Which he apparently did. I mean, look at that face.
Ayres is now the second-oldest player to make his professional debut, being bested only by Lester Patrick, who joined the Rangers at 43 in 1927.
So remember: Even though things, no matter how bad, can always get worse, it can work the other way, too. Even if you already drive the Zamboni.