There's been plenty of players from the Sarnia area that have made the jump to the NHL, but Scott Foster's journey might just be the most improbable.
The 36-year-old began Thursday night's game between Chicago and Winnipeg as the Blackhawks third-string netminder, but a couple of injuries gave Foster the opportunity of a lifetime.
The full-time accountant and part-time Chicago beer league goalie entered the game six minutes into the final frame with the Blackhawks in front 6-2. A desperate Chicago team did everything they could to preserve the lead with their emergency netminder between the pipes, and Foster didn't let his teammates down.
In his 14 minutes of play, Foster stopped all seven shots he faced. The crowd erupted with every save, they cheered "Fos-ter, Fos-ter!" throughout the final period, and in the end the Sarnia native was named the first star of the game.
This is very likely the only NHL action the former Western Michigan Bronco will ever see in his lifetime. NHL teams now have an emergency goaltender at every game for situations just like this one, a role Foster has been in 12 to 15 times for the Blackhawks, but it's very rare to see 3rd-stringers get called into the game.
Foster, who played two seasons with the Petrolia Jets of the Western Jr. B Hockey League from 2000 to 2002, left last night's game with $500, his game-worn jersey and memories he won't soon forget.
