NHL team plays equipment manager in goal

Emergency backup goalie Jorge Alves of the Carolina Hurricanes is congratulated on his NHL debut by teammates. Photo / Getty

The Carolina Hurricanes have given their equipment manager the moment of a lifetime.

The Hurricanes signed their equipment manager Jorge Alves to a professional tryout contract to be the backup goaltender for today's game at Tampa Bay.

Eddie Lack, the regular backup to Cam Ward, was ill and unavailable, and it proved impossible to make a move late in the afternoon on New Year's Eve, so Alves got the call.

Jorge Alves signs his professional tryout contract to serve as the #Canes back-up goaltender tonight. #CARvsTBL pic.twitter.com/i3DOaTLlr2

— Canes Stan The Stars (@Canes) December 31, 2016

Alves, 37, has been one of Carolina's full-time equipment managers since the 2012-13 season and practices with the team on a regular basis. He played on North Carolina State University's club hockey team for the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons and had several short stints in the ECHL and Southern Professional Hockey League.

Alves moved to Raleigh in 2001 following four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, and has been with Carolina's equipment staff since 2003-04.

The Hurricanes had Alves lead the team onto the ice for warmups, letting him skate around the Carolina zone in his No. 40 jersey by himself before joining him.

Alves still performed his tasks as equipment manager during the game, not expecting to get on the ice.

However, down 3-1 in the dying stages of the game, the Hurricanes let him live his dream.

Jorge Alves is a goaltender of record in the @NHL after coming in tonight's game with 7.6 seconds remaining. #HipHipJorge

WATCH 🔻 #CARvsTBL pic.twitter.com/cS2sLKJXaS

— Canes Stan The Stars (@Canes) January 1, 2017

- With AP