By Mark Hodgins [1]
BELLEVILLE – Former Belleville Bulls [2] goaltender Malcolm Subban [3] has been called up by the NHL’s Boston Bruins [4].
Bruins’ backup goalie Jonas Gustavsson found himself on injured reserve after reportedly spending a few days in hospital last week [5] with an elevated heart rate. Gustavsson, who backstopped for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2009 to 2012, underwent surgery three times [6] during his stint in Toronto to fix an irregular heartbeat.
Subban’s call up is an “emergency recall [7]” because Gustavsson’s injury puts the Bruins below the league’s minimum required number of players. This means the recalled player isn’t subject to the NHL’s waiver rules, but must be sent back down as soon as the injured player returns.
So far this season, Subban has posted a .913 save percentage along with a 2.45 goals against average in 26 games for Boston’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Providence Bruins.
Subban’s only career NHL start came last season against the St. Louis Blues. It didn’t go well for the rookie, who allowed three goals on six shots before being pulled.
He was a star for Belleville, playing three seasons between the pipes for the Bulls on his way to being drafted 24th overall in the 2012 NHL draft.