Bleak times for hockey’s ‘Black Aces’

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This article was published 24/09/2020 (2140 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EDMONTON — Life as one of hockey’s so-called “Black Aces” has never been more bleak. That’s a product of having to bid goodbye to loved ones and move inside a bubble for as long as two-and-a-half months, unsure if your name is ever going to get called or if you’re stuck in a perpetual state of practising. 

“That’s a tough ask for someone. For the next nine weeks, you’re gonna work hard every day and we don’t know if you’re gonna play. And you’re gonna leave your family behind. Those are great sacrifices,” Dallas Stars interim head coach Rick Bowness said Thursday.

Heading into Friday night’s Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final, there are seven players still in the hockey hub of Edmonton who have yet to suit up for a playoff game this season. The list includes Tampa Bay Lightning skaters Mathieu Joseph, Alexander Volkov and Scott Wedgewood, along with Dallas Stars players Jason Robertson, Justin Dowling, Landon Bow and Gavin Bayreuther.

Nicholas Caamano was on that list until Game 3, when his time finally arrived due to an injury to Stars forward Blake Comeau. The 22-year-old from Ontario, with 12 career NHL games on his resumé and none since November 2019, made his playoff debut. 

“It was an awesome experience, something you obviously dream about as a kid,” said Caamano, who drew a pair of penalties and played 11:31 in the 5-2 loss. “It was weird going through your game-day routine (every day and not playing), but we knew as Black Aces you gotta be ready to go if your name’s called. That’s what I tried to be, ready at all times.”

Bowness said the playoff format has been a battle for everyone, with the usual comforts of home and distractions away from the rink not available. 

“You give those kids a lot of credit… They’ve worked extremely hard. Our coaches have done a great job keeping them fresh on the ice with different drills and games. But it’s a lot harder on them, not knowing if or when they’re gonna play,” he said.

Then there’s the case of Lightning goalie Curtis McElhinney. The 37-year-old journeyman has dressed for all 22 playoff games, but has not played a single second. As the understudy to perennial Vezina Trophy candidate and workhorse Andrei Vasilevskiy, he’s simply there in the event of an emergency.

“Curtis is as valuable as anybody in our locker room. He’s become a rally good partner to (Vasilevskiy). He’s supportive, he’s a veteran, he’s seen pretty much everything. You need that support staff in the goaltending tandem. Curtis knew when he signed with us, this was a distinct possibility, that he wasn’t the guy that was going to be playing the playoff games. He knew his role coming in,” said Lightning head coach Jon Cooper.

“He’s been phenomenal, I can’t say enough about what a character guy he is. He’s got a great feel in the room. You need that. Everybody needs to be pulling in the same direction. Curtis has most definitely been doing that. He’s been awesome to have in our room.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg