Emergency backup Jett Alexander signs ATO, makes NHL debut with Toronto Maple Leafs

Hours after signing a tryout deal, Jett Alexander, a goaltender with the University of Toronto from the Candian USports ranks, played the final minute of play for the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 7-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

Alexander served as backup to Ilya Samsonov for Toronto’s game at Scotiabank Arena. With the Leafs in full control of the game, coach Sheldon Keefe put Alexander in net to close the game, his first NHL game action at the age of 23.

Earlier this season, the Edmonton Oilers signed EBug Matthew Berlin to a deal and even got to play the final few minutes, closing out a 7-3 victory against Chicago.

The Leafs are without Matt Murray, who is out day-to-day with a head injury. Joseph Woll was called up on an emergency basis earlier this week but was sent back down to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies on Friday. With just $38,750 in cap space, the Leafs could not afford to call up a goalie for the game on Saturday.

Alexander, a 6-foot-5 native from Bloomfield, Ont., has previously served as an emergency backup for the Colorado Avalanche in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2021. Alexander is part of a rotating cast of emergency backups for the Leaf, which has included previous EBugs David Ayres and Alex Bishop.

Alexander had a 12-7-2 record with three shutouts and a .927 save percentage with the University of Toronto this season, his second year with the club and first as starter.

In 2017-18, Alexander, a Mississauga Steelheads draft pick, set an OJHL-record 10 shutouts, helping North York to their first 40-win season in team history. In 43 games played that year, the 2018 OHA top prospect award recipient finished with a 1.67 GAA and a .945 SV%.

Alexander represented Canada East at the 2017 World Junior A Challenge and played in every single game with some strong efforts. That season, he was the OJHL MVP, the league’s top goaltender and the top netminder in all of Canadian Jr. A hockey.