A Chat With Gavin McHale, the Caps’ Backup Goalie for a Day

For Gavin McHale, the goaltending coach for the women’s hockey team at the University of Manitoba, November 14, 2018 will be a date that he will remember forever. He was called upon to be an emergency backup goalie for the Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals. Though it wasn’t his first time serving as a backup in the NHL, this time he let it sink in.

Early that morning, before the Capitals had to face the Winnipeg Jets, the 31-year-old received a phone call from Caps goalie coach Scott Murray, letting him know that he might be needed that night. Braden Holtby, who was supposed to be the starting goalie against the Winnipeg Jets that day, suffered an upper body injury. The other option…