The Phoenix Coyotes got bad news before their game against the New York Rangers on Thursday night. Starting goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov came down with a case of the flu, leaving the team no time to call up a goaltender from their system who could get to Madison Square Garden for the 7 p.m. game.
So the Coyotes signed Tom Fenton, who works in the community relations department at Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y., to a pro contract just hours before Thursday's game.
The Coyotes only became aware of Bryzgalov's illness after the the team meal Thursday afternoon. They considered signing goaltending coach Sean Burke, a longtime NHL goaltender, but he would have had to spend 24 hours on waivers first.
Fenton played four years of ice hockey at American International College in Springfield, Mass. The native of Sarnia, Ontario, had a 1-12-1 record, a 3.60 goals-against average and .886 save percentage during his senior season of 2008-09.
It was also the last season Fenton played organized hockey.