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The flu was running rampant in the Blackhawks’ clubhouse and had already taken out one of their goalies, Arvid Söderblom. Then, at 5 p.m. that fateful Friday, Nozzolillo received a call that Spencer Knight—the backup—had been hit as well. Suddenly, the Blackhawks were left with just one goalie, a recent call-up from their AHL affiliate who had expected to serve as the backup. With no other options, the Blackhawks were forced to turn to their EBUGs—and that meant Nozzolillo  was going to have to suit up. 

Nozzolillo grew up playing hockey in Nackawic, a small town located in New Brunswick, Canada. He went on to attend high school in Lake Placid, NY, where he played hockey at the National Sports Academy, favoring the goalie position. He chose to attend Lake Forest College out of several schools he was accepted to and was thrilled to make the College’s hockey team. Upon graduation, he continued playing hockey in men’s hockey leagues at Johnny’s Icehouse in Chicago. It was through his league at Johnny’s that Nozzolillo was approached by the Blackhawks to serve as in their emergency backup goalie (EBUG) position. Nozzolillo signed on as an EBUG, who are paid $100 per game to sit in the stands in case their name is called. Nozzolillo would prepare for each game by eating a nourishing pre-game meal, stretching, and following the game closely so he would be ready to step in if needed.  

Nozzolillo, who serves as Wintrust Bank’s Senior Vice President of Middle Market Banking when he’s not on the ice, has settled into life in Chicago. On January 9, he got lunch with colleagues at a nearby Hooters restaurant. Nozzolillo knew he was scheduled to be backup that night but thought that the chances of getting called in were slim. Little did he know that the meal would wind up being his pregame meal.  

Nozzolillo had a 5 p.m. client call and noticed he had missed a call. After he finished with his client, he got another call and answered. He heard the Blackhawks rep on the other side say “we’re going to sign you, dress you as back up, and you’re going to be on the roster. Once I heard that my adrenaline started going!” He had to move fast to get ready for the game, pulling his undergear out of the washer before the cycle finished, tossing them into the dryer so he could make it to the rink on time. After confirming the spelling of his name for the jersey, it finally hit him—this was real. He made his way to the United Center where he changed into his hockey gear, met some of the players, and skated out onto the ice.

Nozzolillo was encouraged to invite friends and family to the game, and his wife and friend watched as he warmed up with the team and soaked in the moment. Nozzolillo  described the feeling of being on the ice as standing “with the greats.” During the game he connected with Darren Pang, a former Blackhawks goalie and current color commentator. The two had met three months earlier at the United Center and bonded over being goalies often labeled as “too short.” Joking with Pang, 5’10 Nozzolillo said, “Small guys still have a shot.” 

The Blackhawks lost 5-1 against the Alex Ovechkin-led Washington Capitals. With many of the players sick that night, Nozzolillo told the team, “I didn’t have time to eat dinner, so my pre-game meal was my lunch at Hooters during work. That got a lot of laughs from the guys who weren’t 100 percent that night.” While he was not paid any money, Nozzolillo got to keep the Blackhawks hat, a couple of game pucks, his custom jersey, his locker nameplate, and memories for life. “It was an honor to wear the jersey and be with the guys,” Nozzolillo shared.

Since that night, Nozzolillo’s story has been profiled by ESPN, CBS News, ABC, The US Sun, and the Daily Mail. For Nozzolillo, the night reinforced how much he loves hockey and playing with a team. He sees older athletes still playing at Johnny’s and is constantly inspired: “They make me want to play as long as I can.”  

Alumni can enjoy playing alongside Nozzolillo and hearing more about his night as a Blackhawk at the upcoming alumni hockey scrimmage during Lake Forest College’s Winter Alumni Athletics event on January 31.