Gerald Mayhew scores in NHL debut
By @MichaelCaples –
A special night, made even better.
Gerald Mayhew made his NHL debut for the Minnesota Wild in Toronto Tuesday night, and during said debut, he scored his first NHL goal.
The Wyandotte native and Ferris State alum scored at the 18:58 mark of the third period. It wasn’t enough for the Wild, as they lost to the Maple Leafs, 4-2, but it was a magical moment for the former Mr. Hockey winner, that’s for sure.
“It’s a dream come true really,” Mayhew said on the Fox Sports North postgame show. “It’s surreal. It’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was probably five years old, and I’m lucky enough to be able to do it.”
The goal:
GIF style:
Gerry. Gerry. Gerry. pic.twitter.com/6VBLi1LrCh
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 16, 2019
Family reaction (along with former Bulldogs teammate Chad McDonald:
And shout-out from a rather big name in the Michigan and Minnesota hockey communities, too:
Congrats @alfano20 on 1st NHL goal @mnwild many more to come.
— Mike Modano (@9modano) October 16, 2019
Praise from the opposing team’s coach, as well, it appears:
Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock went out of his way after Tuesday night’s game to congratulate Gerald Mayhew of the Wild on his first NHL goal. Nice touch. Mayhew played five games with Babcock’s son, Michael, on the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL seven years ago.
— Ken Campbell (@THNKenCampbell) October 16, 2019