Beer League Backup: After lunch at Hooters, he suited up for the Blackhawks

CHICAGO (WGN) — At the end of a recent workday, commercial banker David Nozzolillo was reviewing financial documents at his desk in Orland Park. In the window he has a series of hockey bobblehead figures.

It’s one indication that hockey is never too far from his mind.

The 45-year-old former Lake Forest college player now suits up in an beer league at Johnny’s Icehouse East, where it is common to see players with more than a few gray hairs.

“I’m way past my prime, as far as being an NHL eligible player, but I can still stop some pucks,” Nozolillo said.

A goaltender is a team’s last line of defense, the one who is always ready to react. Nozolillo plays as much for the “net work” as he does for the networking.

“It’s a great atmosphere,” he said. “Good networking and good bunch of guys and everybody kind of knows everybody.”

One of them had a connection with the Chicago Blackhawks and shared Nozolillo’s number.

“I just got a call out of the blue from the Hawks assistant GM and they asked me if I was interested in being one of their emergency goalies,” he said.

The emergency backup goalie is something out of a story book – it’s a quirky exception that allows for an average joe to be plucked off the street and plugged into the net in a real NHL game if a team is desperate.  

“Only in the NHL,” he said. “There’s no other sport where you can kind of take somebody – an amateur off the street — and throw him into a pro game. It’s kind of unique.”

So just like a goalie in the net, Nozolillo always must be ready. His Hawks ‘go bag’ is packed with his pads and skates. He is one of four rotating emergency backups who are technically ‘on call’ for both the Hawks and their opponents. 

He never knows when an ordinary day — which may start with a visit to a client’s construction project — could end on the ice at the United Center.

It happened in January.

“I was here at the office and just decided we’d go to lunch on Fridays and ended up at Hooters next door because the guys wanted to go over there,” he said.

Later that day he was wrapping up at around 5 p.m.

“I was on the phone with a client, so missed the Hawks’ first call, and then I got off the phone, and they were calling me again,” he said.

It turned out the flu knocked out both starting goalie Spencer Knight and backup Arvid Soderblom. Meaning Nozolillo would be needed.

“Very rare, very rare, “ he said. “I think it happened 6 or 7 years ago.”

It was 2019  — in a made for TV moment — Oak Park accountant Scott Foster was sent into a game against the Winnipeg Jets, and in 14 minutes, Foster stopped seven shots.

On January 9, 2026, Nozolillo, a 5’10,” 179-pound amateur was called to play against the Washington Capitals and the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, Alexander Ovechkin. He signed one day contract and was paid $100 for the night. 

“You’re officially on the roster,” he said. “It was a whirlwind. The adrenaline was flowing when I got the call and you’re just trying to get into that game mentality.”

Nozolillo backed up a minor league goalie who was also called, so Nozolillo never saw game action. He was, however, ready on the bench if needed.

“You’re in the game, but you’re not,” Nozolillo said. “You’re not on the ice playing the game, but you’re in warmups and you’re ready to go on the bench.”

The NHL’s emergency backup exception is changing next season when a new collective bargaining agreement will require teams to have a permanent emergency goalie on the roster.

“It’s going to change next year based on the new CBA,” he said. “They’ll have a permanent emergency goalie.”

So, it’ll be back to the beer league, and back to bankers’ hours.

“I’m just happy to have the opportunity. I can die happy,” he said.

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