There is no doubt that goalies are the most important position in hockey. As the league honors goaltenders this week with NHL goalie week, tendies across the league are getting plenty of love. In Carolina specifically, there have been plenty of notable goalies in Cam Ward, Arturs Irbe, Kevin Weekes and current Canes’ goalie Freddy Andersen.
On the other end of the spectrum, who are some of the most forgettable or obscure goalies to ever wear the Hurricanes sweater? In this exercise, we figured to give some of the Hurricanes goalies who fit into that category some love considering this is national goalie week, where we celebrate all goalies. Let’s get started.
5. Eric Fichaud– Fichaud was once a highly regarded goaltending prospect. Fichaud was drafted 16th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1994 NHL draft. After being traded to the New York Islanders in April of 1995 the Islanders thought they had their goaltender of the future. Fichaud was thrown to the wolves on a bad Islander team, hurting his confidence and development. Fichaud made a brief stint with the Nashville Predators before being acquired by the Hurricanes for a 3rd round pick. Fichaud played a total of 9 career games for the Canes all during the 99-00 season. Fichaud went 3-5-1 and 1 shutout before being claimed by the Montreal Canadiens off waivers in February of 2000. Fichaud would be out of the league by 2001.
4. Mark Fitzpatrick– Coming in at four is another former New York Islander goaltender in Fitzpatrick. With a total of 329 games played during his career in the NHL, Fitzpatrick is easily the most well known goaltender on the list but most don’t remember him as Carolina Hurricane. Fitzpatrick only appeared in 3 games for the Hurricanes in the 99-00 season, oddly enough the same year Eric Fichaud played for the team. Fitzpatrick didn’t record a win with the Canes and posted a forgettable .882 save percentage.
Related: Can Canes’ Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov Take Over Starting Role?
3. Patrick DesRochers– Who? That is probably the reaction for most Hurricane fans when asked if they remember Patrick DesRochers. DesRochers only played a total of 11 games in the NHL, with 2 of those coming with the Hurricanes in the 2002-2003 season. DesRochers was acquired from the Phoenix Coyotes on New Year’s Eve of 2002 in exchange for fellow goaltender Jean-Marc Pelletier. Pelletier never played a game for the Hurricanes in the NHL prior to being traded, in case anyone is wondering why he doesn’t appear on the list.
2. Mike Fountain– After being drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 1992, Fountain didn’t play a NHL game until 96-97 when he appeared in 9 games with the Canucks. Fountain made his way to the Carolina Hurricanes for the teams inaugural season in Carolina after moving from Hartford. Fountain would play in just 3 games for the Hurricanes, losing all 3 contests with an ugly .853 save percentage. Fountain would go on to only play in 2 NHL games with the Ottawa Senators before he was out of the league
Related: ‘I’ll Be Honest, There Were Lots.’ Hurricanes’ Martin Necas Confirms Interest Of Other NHL Teams Before Re-Signing With Carolina
1. Jorge Alves– Before there was David Ayres there was Jorge Alves, Hurricanes equipment manager who stepped in goal for the Hurricanes in 2016-2017. Alves signed a PTO with the Hurricanes to serve as back-up to Cam Ward in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning after Eddie Lack was unable to dress. With the Canes losing 3-1, Hurricanes coach Bill Peters at the time, decided to put Alves in goal in place of Ward after icing the puck. Alves did not face a shot and only was in goal for 7.6 seconds before the game ended. With only 7.6 seconds of playing time, Alves’ career is the shortest in NHL history.
