What is an EBUG in hockey? How Jett Alexander became the latest one to see action in an NHL game

The Maple Leafs made the dream of University of Toronto goaltender Jett Alexander come true Saturday night. They inserted him into a "Hockey Night in Canada" game against the Canadiens just hours after signing him to an amateur tryout contract. 

Alexander wasn't used in an actual emergency, fortunately. He got 70 seconds of ice time at the end of Toronto's blowout victory over Montreal. While this was Alexander's first taste of NHL regular-season action, he spent time as an emergency backup goalie, or EBUG, for the Avalanche last season and has gained valuable experience off the ice.

EBUGs almost never used in a regular-season game. By playing on Saturday, Alexander joined an exclusive group of EBUGs who have seen NHL ice time. 

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Here's what you need to know about EBUGs in the NHL:

What is an EBUG in the NHL?

EBUG stands for emergency backup goaltender. The player is not on a team's roster but attends all its home games and occasionally practices with the team. He is around in case either team loses its active goaltenders to injuries, illness, etc. and needs a replacement.

In Alexander's case, he filled in for Matt Murray and Calle Jarnkrok, who were out with injuries. Ilya Samsonov started in goal for Toronto.

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The EBUG typically is an everyday individual who has past goaltending experience. As we saw Saturday in Toronto and have seen other times over the past decade, there have been situations where EBUGs have entered games. 

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NHL EBUG history

Alexander is just the sixth emergency backup goaltender to see action in a regular-season NHL game: