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Coyotes recall Climie

Ujersy / 2010-12-17

Tom Fenton's night as an NHL backup goalie continued to draw media attention, but the Phoenix Coyotes ended his dream on Friday. The team recalled Matt Climie from their AHL San Antonio affiliate.

Fenton, a New York-area amateur who played in goal in college, was pressed into service Thursday when the Coyotes found themselves a netminder short. No. 1 goalie Ilya Bryzgalov missed their game against the New York Rangers with the flu, and team officials had no time to bring up someone to back up Jason LaBarbera, where to buy Discount NHL Jerseys, maybe ujersy is a good choice.

So, they signed Fenton to a tryout contract. He took warmups and sat on the bench during the Coyotes' 4-3 shootout loss to the Rangers.

Friday, the Coyotes called on Climie, who is 13-5-2 for San Antonio with a 2.45 goals-against average. The Coyotes signed him in July.

The Coyotes considered activating goalie coach Sean Burke, who in 18 NHL seasons won 324 games. However, that would have required them to cut Burke a one-year deal and for him to clear waivers.

Left scrambling to find a fill-in, they came up with Fenton, 26, a graduate student and hockey coach from Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y.

"Somehow my name got thrown out there," Fenton said after the game. "I got the call, and I guess I just called back quicker than the other guys."

How? Frank Effinger, the Coyotes' director of professional scouting and a former coach at Iona College, contacted a former player who recommended Fenton.

Fenton didn't respond immediately to the Coyotes' call -- he was getting a haircut -- and told interviwers he had to be convinced he wasn't being the victim of a prank, if you want to buy New Jersey Devils Jerseys, go to ujersy.

Once Fenton was decided it was legit, he headed to Rye, N.Y., to get his goalie gear and then needed to find his way into Manhattan. To do so, he had to borrow a friend's car.

Fenton and several buddies got through rush-hour traffic and arrived at Madison Square Garden in time for a night no one expected. In fact, Fenton skipped a final exam for this once-in-a-lifetime chance.

"They basically said I have to get my butt down to MSG as soon as I can," Fenton told The Associated Press.

Fenton's goaltending experience in organized hockey consisted of four years at American International College in Springfield, Mass. He won 14 of 81 games with a 3.87 goals-against average -- including a 1-12-1 mark with a 3.60 GAA in the 2008-09 season.

When he strolled into the Coyotes' dressing room with his equipment, the ribbing started in full force.

"One of them mentioned I have to change my stick immediately," Fenton said. "I have a yellow stick from my college days, and they said that wasn't going to fly. They quickly gave me a stick. There was a couple of more jabs."

His pads and mask were given the OK. Fenton donned a No. 35 Coyotes sweater with his name on the back -- a nameplate, not stitched -- but his mask sported the number 30 and the colors of his college club, Recommend directory: Toronto Maple Leafs Jerseys.

Although he and his new teammates knew he wouldn't be with the Coyotes even as late as the time the bus left the Garden, for one night he was one of the guys. An NHLer for a few hours.

"It was good. It was fun," Coyotes defenseman Derek Morris said. "We were all kind of a little bit confused as to what went on there, but he did a good job. He came in, he had a good attitude, he was fun to be around, he was quiet. He took it with a grain of salt and had a good time with it."

By: Jerseys Supplier

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