Tom Fenton’s Free Night of Work

Tom Fenton’s one night with Phoenix Coyotes paid the same as a pick-up game…nothing!!

[caption id=”attachment_461" align=”aligncenter” width=”300" caption=”Tom Fenton on the Phoenix Coyotes Bench”]

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If you didn’t hear the amazing story of Fenton signing a one-night amateur tryout contract, check out ESPN’s coverage on the story.

If you are too lazy to click, here is a short recap…

The Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov came down with the flu shortly before facing the New York Rangers in Madison Square Garden. The team didn’t have time to call up a goaltender from the minors because of a 24 hour waiver rule. Fenton happens to live in the same area as Coyotes head of pro scouting Frank Effinger. Fenton hadn’t played hockey since 2009 at American International College but is a current coach of hockey at Mahattanville College in New York.

The minimum salary for an NHL player for the 2010–2011 is $500,000. Divide that by 82 games in a season and Fenton should have received $6097.52 for a nights work, but all he received was some memories.

Because of the wording in the contract (“amateur tryout”), Fenton just went home with a personalized jersey that he could have created on NHL.com. I know the NHL is on rough times but lets get this guy some cash, he had to miss a college final too just to sit on the bench.