Get All Access for $5/mo

This 36-Year-Old Accountant Just Made His NHL Debut, and It Shows Why You Should Always Keep Your Skills Sharp Be ready for opportunity.

By Nina Zipkin

Chase Agnello-Dean | Getty Images

You never know when opportunity will strike, so you should always be prepared. A prime example of rising to the occasion happened during the Thursday night NHL matchup between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Winnipeg Jets.

After the Blackhawks lost their first and second string goalies to injuries, they called in emergency backup Scott Foster.

As his title might suggest, Foster isn't usually logging time on the ice. He attends Chicago home games in case he's needed, but usually his evenings are spent having dinner and watching his teammates play.

Related: Revealing the 70 Most Entrepreneurial Superstars in Sports

The 36-year-old Foster is the married dad of two and his day job is pretty prosaic, though probably busy this time of year -- he's an accountant. He was a college player who now keeps up his skills in two recreational leagues.

So when duty called, he made it happen.

He signed a contract, put on the uniform and stepped into the rink. And he handled himself admirably. He stopped all seven shots that came his way and helped the Blackhawks secure a 3-1 victory.

Related: 15 Motivational Quotes From Legends in Sports

"A few hours ago I was sitting on the computer typing on a 10-key," Foster told reporters after the game. "Now I'm standing in front of you guys having just finished 14 and a half minutes of NHL hockey."

How do you keep your skills sharp? Let us know in the comments.

Nina Zipkin

Entrepreneur Staff

Staff Writer. Covers leadership, media, technology and culture.

Nina Zipkin is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com. She frequently covers leadership, media, tech, startups, culture and workplace trends.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Side Hustle He Started in His College Apartment Turned Into a $70,000-a-Month Income Stream — Then Earned Nearly $2 Million Last Year

Kyle Morrand and his college roommates loved playing retro video games — and the pastime would help launch his career.

Growing a Business

How Visionary Leaders Transform Curiosity Into Groundbreaking Ideas

Lee Brian Schrager, founder of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, discusses the spark that launched FoodieCon, his best practices for running popular food events, and why all business owners need to adapt to social media trends.

Business News

Homeowners in These 10 States Pay the Most in 'Hidden' Upkeep Costs

Hidden home costs pile on top of mortgage payments.

Data & Recovery

Get $60 off This Portable VPN Travel Router

Why keep paying for a VPN service when you can have a tiny, lightweight piece of hardware that can provide you with a lifetime of maximum VPN protection?

Money & Finance

Avoid These 10 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make with Money

Despite the challenging statistic that only 5% of startups survive beyond five years, common financial pitfalls often contribute to their failure. Through personal observation, I've identified the prevalent financial mistakes made by entrepreneurs.

Growing a Business

5 Books to Help You Motivate, Unify and Build Perspective

In a post-Covid world, check out these must-read books to help build a more resilient organization, create a modern work culture and maintain a powerful growth mindset.