To take down a dynasty, sometimes, you need a little help. You need the stars to align just so. You need a comeback. You need to do something that few could ever even imagine was possible in the first place.
The dynasty in question? I’m talking, of course, about No Regretzskies, that mighty hockey team from the 40-and-over beer league in South Florida. You know them, don’t you? They’ve won the championship five years in a row.
The challenger in need of a miracle? None other than the humble Beer League Leafs.
Yes, there was a little magic at a South Florida ice rink a few weeks ago when the Leafs took on No Regretzskies in the do-or-die semifinal match of the playoffs. At first, though, it seemed like there might not be a game at all. The usual goalie couldn’t make it to the game.
That’s where our story begins.
Forfeit wasn’t an option here. For fierce competitors like the Beer League Leafs, it never is—but especially not against No Regretzskies. You see, the players who founded No Regretzskies—the ones who have won five league titles in a row—they actually started as Beer League Leafs. But at some point, there was a Civil War within the team, and one group splintered after an unnamed disagreement (it’s all water on the bridge, and it’s all settled on the ice) to form their own team, which became No Regretzskie. As you might imagine, the rivalry has been fierce ever since.
Without a goalie, though, Leafs captain Brad Bargman didn’t know what to do. A few days before the semifinals, Bargman was at the ice rink coaching a youth team. In the coaches’ room was one of the players from No Regretzskies—along with the most famous coach at the rink: Hall of Fame goalkeeper Roberto Luongo, who volunteers with youth teams including his own son’s. “Big game on Thursday,” Bargman said to the rival, and then made a joke suggesting that since they didn’t know who would be in goal, maybe Luongo could step in.
The two beer leaguers laughed. Luongo didn’t.
The legendary goalie said he’d play.
Wait…really?
So, the next morning, Bargman texted the Hall of Fame goalkeeper, the 45-year-old who had played in 1,044 NHL games, to ask if he was serious.
No reply.
Rats. It was a fun idea, at least.
The night before the game, he thought Bargman might as well try one more time. He texted Luongo again.
This time, he got a reply. Luongo was in.
So, the next night—the game started after 10 p.m.—the Leafs sat in their dressing room when Luongo walked in, wearing full goalie pads. “There’s your goalie, boys,” said one of the Leafs. The other guys just laughed.
But he was serious. And soon, Luongo was skating to the crease. Luongo had retired in 2019, so he was a bit rusty, allowing in two early goals. But the Leafs came back, slowly but surely, and won 4-2.
The next week, the Leafs’ normal goalie was available to play again. Many speculated whether Luongo would play in his place. But Bargman insists that was never an option. No matter what, he says, he was going to go back to the goalie who had gotten them to the semifinals in the first place. If the Hall of Famer wanted to play in the championship, he could watch from the bench. "I'm not about that,” Bargman said. “That's our goalie. You lose with your goalie. You win with your goalie.”
As for Luongo? ESPN reached him for a comment. This is what he said: “It's an urban legend story, and I prefer to leave it that way.”
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