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Bartender on call for Salmon Kings

Stead serves as EBUG for Victoria’s ECHL club
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Salmon Kings EBUG Trevor Stead.

Stead serves as EBUG for Victoria’s ECHL club

Jordan White was lifted out of hockey obscurity by the Vancouver media after the UBC Thunderbirds goalie served as emergency call-up for the San Jose Sharks when the NHL team was in Vancouver to play the Canucks.

White was the EBUG — emergency back up goalie.

Trevor Stead holds that role with the Victoria Salmon Kings.

“I’m not in school. I’m just living it out, working and playing hockey. It’s just a chance to continue playing hockey at the highest level, which I always wanted to do,” Stead said.

At any given time, the 22-year-old is ready to step in against NHL prospects. Meanwhile, he works a regular shift bartending and expediting at the Bard and Banker Scottish Pub and fills in for area senior men’s hockey teams.

But if either of the Canucks’ goaltending duo of Roberto Luongo or Cory Schneider suffer an injury, replacing them causes a trickle-down effect that leaves the Salmon Kings with one goalie. It’s happened before, and Stead is ready.

But for all of his desire, EBUG’s rarely see ice time. They sign 24-hour, amateur-status contracts and are as likely to dress for the visiting team as the home team. His name is included in the daily ECHL transactions but has little to show for it besides a No. 30 jersey with his name on it.

Travelling with the team is rare for an EBUG, but Stead did just that when the Salmon Kings rostered him for a two-game series in Alaska last December. Starting goalie David Shantz played both games but the experience wasn’t lost on Stead.

“Everything about travelling with a team is different. It was a real eye-opener about what it’s like to play at that level,” he said.

Though he’s yet to officially play, there’s been plenty of calls from assistant coach Ryan Wade requesting Stead’s presence at practice.