Calgary Flames sign emergency backup Dustin Nickel after Jacob Markstrom falls ill; Dan Vladar to start against Vegas

Photo credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Nov 27, 2023, 20:47 ESTUpdated: Nov 27, 2023, 20:48 EST

A bit of history will occur on Monday night at the Saddledome. With starting netminder Jacob Markstrom deemed unavailable for the game after the daily roster deadline, the Calgary Flames will dress an emergency backup, Dustin Nickel, as backup behind Dan Vladar in Monday’s game with the Vegas Golden Knights.

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#Flames Roster Update: Jacob Markstrom is unavailable this evening due to illness (flu). Jacob was confirmed too sick to play after the 5 pm MT gameday roster transaction deadline. As a result, Dustin Nickel has been signed to an amateur tryout agreement and will backup tonight.

1:32 AM · Nov 28, 2023

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Nickel, 32, is a Calgary product who’s served as the in-house EBUG for the past several seasons. He played in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with Calgary Canucks, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League with the Kindersley Klippers, and suited up with the Mount Royal University Cougars for a few seasons.

As far as we can tell, this is the first time in Flames franchise history that the club has dressed an emergency backup in a game.

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