The Calgary Flames are set to turn to a familiar face for their emergency backup goaltender role next season, with Dusty Nickel expected to get the call for 2026-27.
According to Eric Francis, the Flames will announce Nickel as their EBUG for the upcoming season. Under the NHL’s updated Collective Bargaining Agreement, he’ll be required to be at all 84 of Calgary’s regular season games, prepared to jump in if both dressed goaltenders become unavailable on a given night.
Nickel, 35, has already spent the last several years serving as the Flames’ home-game emergency option, ready to step into action for either side under the old CBA rules. Francis also noted that Nickel owns a construction company and is a well known character in Calgary, where he has helped the team in a variety of ways, including filling in at practice.
He’s not just a ceremonial name on a roster sheet, either. The Calgary native brings real goaltending background from his junior days, including more than a season with the Calgary Canucks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
In 2009-10, he played 41 games and finished 17-15-2 with a .883 save percentage and a 3.81 goals-against average. The following season, he appeared in 19 more games for the Canucks, going 3-9-0 with a .873 save percentage and a 4.25 goals-against average.
Nickel also logged five games with the Kindersley Klippers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League that same season, posting a 1-3-0 record with a .845 save percentage and a 4.52 goals-against average.
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