The Chicago Blackhawks had to call upon 23-year-old Eric Semborski to be their emergency backup goalie against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. What does a young man get paid for the unexpected task of scrambling to the arena, suiting up, and spending an NHL game ready to step in if needed?
The answer, apparently, is nothing.
So for his efforts hustling to the rink today, Eric Semborski will make exactly $0, per an NHL source.
— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) December 3, 2016
Or, well, no financial compensation. Semborski is watching an NHL game from one of the best seats imaginable, and he has a once-in-a-lifetime story to tell. Maybe he’ll get to keep that special No. 50 jersey (they just altered one of Corey Crawford’s for the game) as well.
I figure this must feel pretty cool:
Eric Semborski is a celebrity. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/a57KLfHs1s
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) December 3, 2016
But color me a little surprised that Semborski won’t receive even a dime for his efforts. He signed an amateur tryout contract, which probably explains why he won’t get paid at all, but everyone likes getting a paycheck in exchange for services rendered. However, Semborski said after the game that he should pay them for such a special experience.
Eric Semborski will not get paid for this. “I should pay them.”
That was why Jimmy Waite didn’t get the call. He’d count against the cap.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) December 3, 2016
I agree that being a backup goaltender for an NHL team for a day, and never having to actually play, sounds pretty fun. This is just another notable wrinkle to one of the most interesting stories of this young Blackhawks season.