CBC – His netminding skills may not rival those of the Montreal Canadiens’ Carey Price, but Jacques Gravel has saved many a hockey game.
And at about $40 a game, Gravel comes considerably cheaper than Price, who commands an eight-year, $84 million contract.
Gravel is one of the growing number of goaltenders offering his services on GoalieUp — a website and app that connects local goaltenders with hockey teams looking for a last-minute fill-in ahead of game time.
The 51-year-old says renting himself out as a goalie helped to keep him afloat during a nine-month bout of unemployment a few years ago.
“I was running from one rink to the next, averaging a game or two every single day,” he said. “During that period it was something that kept me going.”
The app was created by Montreal-area goalie Mark Manning, who got the idea of renting himself out as a substitute goaltender when he was an unemployed student.
What began as a texting service for Montreal goalies seven years ago has now grown into an app that includes about 2,000 netminders across Canada and beyond, including 700 to 800 in the Montreal area.
While many leagues keep lists of available goaltenders, entrepreneurs such as Manning are using technology to create a convenient solution to one of the game’s perpetual problems.
Manning said many leagues face goaltender shortages, largely because of the physical and mental challenges that come with the role.
While the United States deals with mass shootings, a President who’s an international joke and the return of segregation, Canada has its own Major Issues.
As a professional beer league hockey player, there’s nothing more exciting than a tender showing up to a room full of naked guys half cut on cheap beer, smoking cut-rate cigarettes.
Playing hockey without a goalie is like dancing with yourself. Technically your dancing but it sucks balls.
Sure you can turn the net around or play posts but it’s way better having some guy stand there to take rubber. Give him $40 a game and a few of your cold postgame pints and he’ll come back every week.
That’s why this is a big story and the App is getting some props. Goalie shortage averted thanks to hockey nerds.
And you never know when you might need back up.
