Leafs Forced to Bring in Emergency Goaltender After Anthony Stolarz Injury, Per Elliotte Friedman
The Toronto Maple Leafs were forced to make a potential emergency goaltender move after an injury to goaltender Anthony Stolarz.
Stolarz left the Toronto Maple Leafs game against the Anaheim Ducks in the first period. The Leafs called Stolarz out with a lower-body injury.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were forced to bring in a reinforcement.
According to Sportsnet hockey insider Elliotte Friedman, the emergency goalie for Toronto is Michael Nishi. The 31-year-old goaltender last played in Canadian University Hockey (CIS) for the University of Toronto in 2017-18
Toronto had backup Joseph Woll available, who was forced to take over for Stolarz and helped keep Toronto's lead for an eventual 3-2 win against the Ducks.
Luckily for the Leafs, they didn't need to resort to a risky scenario in having to go to an EBUG.
UPDATE : According to Toronto Maple Leafs says the team will know tomorrow on Stolarz's status.
Who Is Michael Nishi And What Is His History?
Michael Nishi, born in Toronto, played his youth hockey in the city, and was a tenth round pick of the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL Priority Selection, according to EliteProspects.
Nishi went three picks ahead of John Gibson, who coincidentally was on the bench for Anaheim tonight.
Nishi would play seven games for Windsor with a 2-1-1 record before being traded to the Soo Greyhounds. GM Kyle Dubas, already having Jack Campbell and Matt Murray in net, would trade Nishi only two months later to the Ottawa 67's.
A year later, Ottawa put Nishi on waivers. Going unclaimed, he signed in the QMJHL with the Gatineau Olympiques, playing in just 21 games before heading back to the OHL with the Guelph Storm.
In 2013, Nishi would go collegiate and joined the University of Toronto. Nishi was a U of T netminder from 2013-2018, appearing in 32 games.
Nishi had a tryout stint in the ECHL with the Brampton Beast. Nishi joined the Leafs as an emergency goalie for James Reimer in 2013, playing in a team practice but did not suit up.
