Windsor Spitfires goaltender Dalen Kuchmey made his first career playoff start Tuesday in Game 3 of his team’s Ontario Hockey League quarterfinals series against the London Knights.
The Knights won 10-2, but that wasn’t the biggest storyline from the game. After allowing eight goals, Kuchmey wanted to come out, but Spitfires head coach Bob Boughner was hesitant to make a goalie switch because the other active netminder, Alex Fotinos (who usually starts), was feeling ill.
With about five minutes left in the second period and London leading 8-1, Kuchmey took matters into his own hands and pulled himself from the game. Instead of taking a seat on the bench for the remainder of the contest, the 19-year-old left the arena with his mother.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly4TbnYuzzg
It was a very bizarre scene to say the least, and after the game, Boughner said Kuchmey quit on the team.
“You’re going to have to ask him,” Boughner said, per Jim Parker of The Windsor Star. “He left the ice, left the rink before the period was over. So, he quit on our team, quit on his teammates.”
Kuchmey commented on the situation Wednesday.
[tweet https://twitter.com/winstarparker/status/448881806821974016 align=”center”]
[tweet https://twitter.com/winstarparker/status/448882522378604544 align=”center”]
The teams will play again Thursday in Game 4, with the Spitfires trailing 3-0 in the best-of-7 series.
Photo via Twitter.com/@HabsHappy
