Call it fate or a coincidence, but shortly after The Sachem Report’s story about Keith Kinkaid’s new goalie helmet, the Sachem East alum was recalled to the New Jersey Devils from Albany (AHL).
According to the Devils, Kinkaid practiced with the team, filling in for Martin Brodeur, who is dealing with back soreness and did not skate.
Kinkaid, 23, is 17-11-5 for the Devils’ top affiliate with a 2.69 goals-against average, .905 save percentage and two shutouts. He leads the club with 33 appearances.
“It’s exciting,” Kinkaid told the Devils PR team on Devil.NHL.com. “I couldn’t really sleep last night; I was pretty excited to get up here again, and just show them what I have in practice, see how much I’ve improved and just battle every day. I want to be the guy that always gets the recall and hopefully be up here for a shot. I just have to keep battling and working hard.”
This is the fourth recall for the Farmingville native, who has yet to make his NHL debut. Kinkaid backed up Hedberg for six games from Oct. 15 to Nov. 2 last season, when Brodeur sat out with a shoulder injury, according to the Devils.
“I had a lot of fun last year backing up,” Kinkaid said. “It’s just exciting. Obviously you want to get a first game, but the time will come, hopefully. It starts in practice – you show them what you’ve got and hopefully they trust you enough to put you in a game. Just being with the team is an accomplishment in itself.”
Kinkaid is not the first Sachem alum to be affiliated with an NHL team or play in the NHL. Graig Mischler (Canucks-Sharks- AHL, minors) and Al Hodges (Devils – AHL, minors).
RELATED: Read about Kinkaid’s new Devils mask
VIDEO: Watch Kinkaid call about his recent call up to the NHL
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro