Zack Ostapchuk got the call on Monday, March 11, from the coach of the Belleville Sens, the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL Ottawa Senators.
Ostapchuk, the former Vancouver Giants captain, would be making his National Hockey League debut against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Senators called up Ostapchuk after centre Rourke Chartier suffered an upper-body injury against the San Jose Sharks and winger Parker Kelly was serving a two-game ban.
"I'm going to remember this for the rest of my life, it was probably the coolest night of my life."
含羞草研究社� Ottawa Senators (@Senators)
Zack Ostapchuk on making his NHL debut
含羞草研究社淢y dream as a little kid is coming true tonight,含羞草研究社� Ostapchuk told reporters during a pre-game scrum posted online by the Senators.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a really special moment for me and my mom. I含羞草研究社檓 just excited I could share that with her. 含羞草研究社�
It was an emotional experience when Ostapchuk phoned Charlene, a single mom, who used to get up early to drive him to the rink.
含羞草研究社淪he was a little surprised at first, then she got choked up, and so did I,含羞草研究社� Ostapchuk recalled.
含羞草研究社淚 can含羞草研究社檛 thank her enough,含羞草研究社� he said.
Charlene grabbed a flight to Ottawa to see her son play.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 his dream,含羞草研究社� she told a TSN interviewer.
含羞草研究社淗e just loves the game. It含羞草研究社檚 his passion.含羞草研究社�
Wearing number 38, Ostapchuk took the traditional solo lap for rookies playing their first game in the NHL
Then, playing in his first NHL game, the centre cut off a pass going to Sidney Crosby in overtime that ultimately led to a game-winning goal and an 2-1 victory for Ottawa.
含羞草研究社淚t was probably the coolest night of my life,含羞草研究社� Ostapchuk said afterwards.
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Ostapchuk, a former Giants captain and MVP, was described as 含羞草研究社渁 talented, driven player and an explosive skater 含羞草研究社� by WHL Giants GM Barclay Parneta when the then-15-year-old signed with the Langley-based team in 2018.
In 2021 Ostapchuk signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Senators.
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