Minnesota Wild Hired Permanent Backup Goalie
The team appointed Peter Thome to fill the new full-time role for the 2026-2027 season.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Hockey
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The Minnesota Wild have officially hired 29-year-old Peter Thome as their permanent, traveling emergency backup goalie. This appointment aligns with a new NHL mandate requiring every team to employ a full-time staff member specifically for the emergency goalie role.
Why it matters
Previously, teams relied on local emergency goalies recruited at each individual arena to fill the roster in dire situations. The league has now shifted to a requirement for a dedicated, traveling employee to ensure consistency across the NHL.
The Minnesota Wild hired 29-year-old Peter Thome, who transitioned to the role after previously serving as a video coach for the Seattle Kraken's minor-league affiliate. This move follows an NHL rule change mandating that teams employ a full-time, traveling individual to fill the emergency backup goalie vacancy.
The players
Peter Thome
He is a 29-year-old hockey professional who previously worked as a video coach for the Seattle Kraken minor-league team.
Minnesota Wild
This is a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul that competes in the National Hockey League.
The details
Peter Thome steps into the position to provide the organization with a consistent emergency presence on the road. The mandate replaces the long-standing practice of sourcing emergency goalies on-site in each city, centralizing the role within the team's professional staff.
Timeline
The Minnesota Wild announced the role for the 2026-2027 season.
The hiring was confirmed as of October 12, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The transition to a permanent, traveling emergency backup goalie reflects a broader professionalization of NHL roster management. This shift ensures teams maintain a standardized level of readiness for unexpected injuries, moving away from the unpredictability of local, arena-provided replacements.
Fans in Saint Paul will see the Minnesota Wild comply with new league protocols regarding staff travel and game-day roster preparedness. The addition of a full-time employee ensures the team meets the NHL requirement for consistent emergency personnel regardless of the travel venue.
The takeaway
The move to a permanent emergency goalie ensures that the organization is not caught off guard by last-minute roster gaps during away games. Dedicated staff members allow for better integration into team travel routines compared to previous on-site alternatives.
Further reading
For more on roster shifts, visit the Hockey section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Star Tribune.
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