There’s a saying in theatre, commonly attributed to Constantin Stanislavski: there are no small parts, only small actors. The meaning behind that phrasing is pretty simple: even the smallest roles can be important.

With that in mind, let’s talk about Calgary Flames emergency backup goaltender Dustin Nickel, shall we? Because he completed a pretty unique feat in 2024.

Nickel dressed as backup for the Calgary Wranglers in February, becoming perhaps the first emergency backup in franchise history to dress for the NHL and AHL clubs in the same season – and possibly the first to dress for the parent and affiliate clubs, period.

Nickel’s been the practice goalie for the Flames for a few years – he added the Wranglers to his duties when they moved to town from Stockton – and also serves as their emergency backup goalie. What that entails is bringing his equipment to the Saddledome, but typically just watching games from the press box just in case a goaltender from either the home or road teams is injured and cannot return. It’s an admittedly small role in the operations of an NHL club, but it can be an important one.

On Nov. 27 of 2023, Jacob Markstrom was sick. Y’know those days where you feel kinda “off” in the morning but think you can push through it? But then it gets worse throughout the day and suddenly you realize that you’re really sick and should just stay home instead of playing in the NHL? Well, that was Markstrom’s day. And by the time he realized he wouldn’t feel well enough to even dress as backup, it was too late in the day to call up Dustin Wolf from the Wranglers – the Flames found out after the 5 p.m. MT roster moves deadline.

As a result, Nickel dressed as Flames backup, wearing #40, and nearly had to enter the game after Vegas Golden Knights forward William Carrier crashed into Dan Vladar. The Flames won 2-1.

Nickel was interviewed on Barn Burner shortly after making his first NHL (bench) appearance.

On Feb. 9 of 2024, Nickel completed the set. The Flames were on the east coast when Dan Vladar was injured in warm-up. The following day, they summoned Dustin Wolf from the Wranglers, and Wolf trekked across the continent to meet the big club. The Wranglers had a game that evening and used Oscar Dansk in net. But due to travel logistics, third-stringer Connor Murphy couldn’t make it from Rapid City, South Dakota to Calgary in time to serve as backup.

As a result, Nickel dressed as Wranglers backup, wearing #31. The Wranglers lost 5-0.

A team using an emergency goaltender during a season is rare, even just them serving as backup for a game. Both the parent and AHL affiliate using the same one in the same season is practically unheard of – in Flames history it’s never happened before, and we doubt it ever happens again. In 2024, Nickel pulled it off.