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Twitter reacts to Zamboni driver David Ayres playing for Hurricanes

arun srinivasan
Contributing Writer
·2 min read
David Ayres, who usually features as a Zamboni driver, took over for the Carolina Hurricanes. (Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
David Ayres, who usually features as a Zamboni driver, took over for the Carolina Hurricanes. (Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)

We often use this cliche frequently, but all hell truly broke loose during Saturday’s game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes.

Hurricanes starter James Reimer left the game in the first period after Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman drove Jaccob Slavin into the net, colliding with Reimer. He exited the game with an upper-body injury and was replaced by Petr Mrazek.

Mrazek’s relief effort was ill-fated however. After coming out of his net to make a routine play on the puck, Mrazek was struck by Maple Leafs forward Kyle Clifford’s forearm, and was slow to get up. He stayed down on the ice for several minutes, before being escorted off the ice.

Since Reimer was is in no shape to return, the Hurricanes deferred to their last-case option.

Enter David Ayres, a 42-year-old zamboni driver who practices with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.

The hockey world lost its collective mind to Ayres entering the game, and we’ve collected some of the best reactions here:

It gets said too often, but this will be a game that Maple Leafs, Hurricanes and hockey fans won’t forget anytime soon. Here’s to you, David Ayres.

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