In an interesting sidenote from Friday's NHL game between the Capitals and Senators, one-time Brockport foe, Brett Leonhardt suited up for the Caps and was this close to seeing ice time. Leonhardt played for Oswego from 2003-2005 and in November of 2004 he was the winning goaltender in a 10-3 Brockport/Oswego match-up. Brockport's current assistant coach, Mark Digby, netted a goal against the big guy in that game.
Here's the AP report on Brett...
Brett Leonhardt realized a dream last night - he was a National Hockey League goaltender for about an hour. If the name doesn't ring a bell, don't worry. In real life, the 6-foot-7 Leonhardt is a Web producer for the Washington Capitals, but he was pressed into service as the team's backup goaltender after José Theodore suffered a hip-flexor injury during the morning skate before the Caps' game against the Ottawa Senators last night.
The Caps recalled Simeon Varlamov from their American Hockey League affiliate in Hershey, Pa., but the Bears were on the road in San Antonio and his flight to Washington wasn't scheduled to arrive until shortly before the 7 p.m. start of the game.
The NHL gave the Caps permission to dress three goaltenders. Leonhart took part in the warmup and sat on the bench as Brent Johnson's backup until Varlamov arrived about seven minutes into the first period.
Leonhart, who has occasionally filled in for Caps practices, played two years of NCAA Division III hockey at SUNY Oswego in upstate New York and two years at Neumann College in Pennsylvania.
