Stoughton Native Gets in Net for Carolina Hurricanes: Video

STOUGHTON, MA — Jorge Alves didn't sign up to play pro hockey when he joined the Carolina Hurricanes as an equipment manager, but the Stoughton native found himself in the unexpected role of backing up Cam Ward on New Year's Eve.

With regular backup goalie Eddie Lack out due to an illness, the team signed Alves to a professional tryout contract, making him a member of the roster for the Hurricanes' Dec. 31 game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Alves saw action in the final 7.6 seconds of the game, hitting the ice late in the team's 3-1 defeat to Tampa Bay. In a post-game interview, Alves said he was preparing to walk back to the locker room when he was called back for a goalie switch.

Alves, 37, has been one of Carolina's full-time equipment managers since the 2012-13 season, and practices with the team on a regular basis, according to the team. He played for North Carolina State University's club hockey team for the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons, followed by several short stints in the East Coast Hockey League and Southern Professional Hockey League. Alves moved to Raleigh in 2001 following four years of service in the Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and has worked with Carolina's equipment staff since the 2003-04 season.

Image Credit: Paul L Dineen via Flickr