Credit: Dave McCarthy / NHL.com Independent Correspondent

University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's hockey goalie Jett Alexander had a day to remember on Saturday, April 8.
 
The 23-year-old University of Toronto student, who is double-majoring in English and earth and environmental sciences, was signed to an amateur tryout by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, played the final 1:10 in goal of their 7-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena.
 
Alexander, who went 12-7-2 with a 2.21 goals-against average and .927 save percentage in his second season with the University of Toronto, did not face a shot after entering the game with a face-off in the Maple Leafs' zone.
 
"First thing [I thought] was hopefully they win the [defensive]-zone draw and get the puck out and nothing comes at me," Alexander said. "But yeah, it was pretty special. Pretty nerve-racking obviously, but something I'll remember."
 
"Whether you get a shot or not, it was 70 seconds on the ice and a game played in the NHL."
 
Alexander said he did not get much notice that he would be entering in relief of Ilya Samsonov, who made 20 saves.
 
"It was just 'Jett, you're going in,'" Alexander said. "I took my hat off, hoped over the boards and kind of blacked out, I guess. It was pretty cool. Didn't really think too much about it. I didn't think that would be something that happened, but it's a pretty cool way to end the game and something I can have under my belt forever."
 
The Maple Leafs signed Alexander after Matt Murray was unable to back up, still dealing with the effects of a head injury sustained in a 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.
 
Alexander also served as an emergency backup for the Colorado Avalanche against the Maple Leafs on Dec. 1, 2021, for the first period of an 8-3 Toronto win. Justus Annunen, who was recalled that night from Colorado of the American Hockey League, took over in the second period upon arriving at the arena.
 
Alexander grew up in Bloomfield, Ontario, about a two-hour drive east of Toronto.
 
"Being a Leafs fan for a very long time, it's pretty special when you get to put that jersey on and just be out there and sitting on the bench just taking it all in was a dream come true, honestly," Alexander said
 
Alexander is the 25^th Varsity Blue to suit up in the NHL. The official list is below:
 
TORONTO (25 players)
Stan Brown, Defence, Toronto (1920-22)
Played two seasons in NHL with NY Rangers (1926-27) & Detroit Cougars (1927-28)
 
Bill Carson, Centre, Toronto (1919-23)
Played four seasons in NHL with Toronto (1926-29) & Boston (1928-30)
 
Beattie Ramsay, Defence, Toronto (1919-23)
Played one season in NHL with Toronto (1927-28)
 
Alex Levinsky, Defence, Toronto (1929-30)
Played nine seasons in NHL with Toronto (1930-34), NY Rangers (1934-35), Chicago (1934-39)
 
Hugh Plaxton, Centre, Toronto, (1921-25)
Played one season in NHL with Montreal Maroons (1932-33)
 
Don Smillie, Forward, Toronto (1929-33)
Played one season in NHL with Boston (1933-34)
 
Bob Copp, Defence, Mount Allison (1934-38) & Toronto (1938-40)
Played two seasons in NHL with Toronto (1942-43 & 1950-51)
 
Ed Kryzanowski, Defence, Toronto (1945-48)
Played five seasons in NHL with Boston (1948-52) & Chicago (1952-53)
 
Dave Reid, Centre, Toronto (1954-56)
Played three seasons in NHL with Toronto (1952-56)
 
Paul Knox, Right Wing, Toronto (1954-55)
Played one season in NHL with Toronto (1954-55)
 
Don Keenan, Goaltender, StFX (1955-58) & Toronto (1959-60)
Played one season in NHL with Boston (1958-59)
 
John Wright, Forward, Toronto (1968-72)
Played three seasons in NHL with Vancouver (1972-74), St. Louis (1973-74) & Kansas City (1974-75)
 
Gary Inness, Goaltender, McMaster (1968-72) & Toronto (1972-73)
Played seven seasons in NHL with Pittsburgh (1973-76), Pittsburgh (1975-76), Philadelphia (1975-77), Washington (1978-81)
 
Kent Ruhnke, Right Wing, Toronto (1971-76)
Played one season in NHL with Boston (1975-76)
 
Mike Boland, Right Wing, Toronto (1967-71)
Played one season in NHL with Philadelphia (1974-75)
 
Dave Tataryn, Goaltender, Toronto (1971-72) & Laurentian (1972-75)
Played one season in NHL with NY Rangers (1976-77)
 
Larry Hopkins, Left Wing, Toronto (1973-78)
Played four seasons in NHL with Toronto (1977-78) & Winnipeg (1979-80, 1981-83)
 
Nelson Debenedet, Left Wing, Toronto (1970-71)
Played two seasons in NHL with Detroit (1973-74) & Pittsburgh (1974-75)
 
Charles Luksa, Defence, Toronto (1973-74)
Played one season in NHL with Hartford (1979-80)
 
Darren Lowe, Right Wing, Toronto (1980-83 & 1985-86)
Played one season in NHL with Pittsburgh (1983-84)
 
Andre Hidi, Left Wing, Toronto (1980-84)
Played two seasons in NHL with Washington (1983-85)
 
Hank Monteith, Left Wing, Toronto, (1962-67)
Played three seasons in NHL with Detroit (1968-71)
 
Ken Duggan, Defence, Toronto, (1982-86)
Played one season in NHL with Minnesota (1987-88)
 
Darren Boyko, Forward, Toronto (1983-85)
Played one season in NHL with Winnipeg (1988-89)
 
Jett Alexander, Goaltender, Toronto (2020-23)
Was twice signed to a one-game NHL amateur try-out agreement (Emergency Back Up Goaltender) by Toronto. Played final 70 seconds of a game between Montreal and Toronto on April 8, 2023… Also previously served as the Colorado emergency backup goaltender in a regular season game against Toronto on Dec. 1, 2021. He participated in the pre-game warm-up but did not dress for the game.
 
Not on official list:
Brent Imlach, Forward, Western Ontario (1967-70), Toronto (1970-71) & York ('71-72)
Prior to U SPORTS, he played three NHL games in two seasons with Toronto (1965-67)
 
Brett Willows, Goaltender, Toronto (2013-17)
Was signed to a one-game NHL amateur try-out agreement (Emergency Back Up Goaltender) by Toronto and was the Leafs backup goaltender in a regular season game against Carolina on Oct. 17, 2013. Since he did not participate in the game he is not considered to have officially played in the NHL.
 
Alex Bishop, Goaltender, Toronto (2018-22)
Was signed to a one-game NHL amateur try-out agreement (Emergency Back Up Goaltender) by Toronto and was the Leafs backup goaltender in a regular season game against Ottawa on Oct. 16, 2021. Since he did not participate in the game he is not considered to have officially played in the NHL.