Sharks name Nathan Airey as emergency backup goaltender

A former college backstop is making his way into the NHL ranks, sort of.

On Friday, San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier announced that the team has hired Nathan Airey to be the team’s new emergency backup goaltender for the 2026-27 season.

The news comes as the NHL turns the page to its new collective bargaining agreement. Along with aspects such as a playoff salary cap and looser dress code, teams are now required to have full-time emergency backups on their staff, rather than have a person waiting in the stands on game nights, in case either team in action needed someone to strap on the pads on a whim.

Per the league’s rules, EBUGs must wear 00.

While the old-school EBUG might be no more than a casual face who just happens to know how to stand in the crease, Airey has some top-end experience between the pipes. The Cochrane, Alb. native played three years at the University of Minnesota, serving as the Golden Gophers’ 1B netminder during the 2024-25 season, sharing the net with Liam Souliere. That year, he posted an impressive record of 12-3-2 in 19 appearances, posting a 2.47 goals-against average, a .900 save percentage and one shutout. He helped Minnesota earn a share of the Big Ten Regular Season Championship.

Last season, Airey took a step back, playing more of the backup role behind transfer Luca Di Pasquo. He went just 3-7-1 in 13 games, with a 3.39 GAA and a .888 SV%. In 35 career games, the 23-year-old went 16-11-3, with a 2.86 GAA and a .893 SV%.

Prior to his NCAA tenure, Airey had a solid junior career. With the Cranbrook Bucks of the British Columbia Hockey League, he was named the league’s best goaltender in 2022-23.