Something crazy went down when the Port Huron Prowlers of the Federal Prospects Hockey League found themselves in need of an emergency back-up goalie after losing three goalies to injury in just two games during a road trip.
The Prowlers had to sign their radio broadcaster, Jeremy Skiba, as their backup. Initially, this left the team without any available broadcaster for their next game, instead only able to stream the game on YouTube, but then they actually made arrangements for Skiba to call the game from the bench.
According to the Port Huron Times Herald, Skiba, 22, has only ever had three years of hockey experience at the youth levels before signing with the Prowlers. The contract offer came as a shock to him, too.
Following Friday's game, most of the Prowlers returned to their hotel. But a few players and coaches elected to ride the bus to a gas station to stock up on snacks.
When Prowlers play-by-play broadcaster Jeremy Skiba climbed back onto the bus with a few smoothies in his hands, Pace stopped him and said, "Yeah, you know we have to sign you as our emergency back-up goalie, right?"
"Are you serious?" Skiba replied. "Are you serious? Are YOU serious?!"
Like all emergency back-up goalie stories, this one’s pretty wild! Especially at the lower levels of professional hockey, teams have fewer options to choose from in these emergency scenarios. Still, we’ve never heard of a broadcaster being signed, only to still call the game from the bench.
This might not say anything of Skiba’s future goaltending career, but broadcasters should definitely take notes!
