Florida Panthers rookie becomes tallest NHL goaltender

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 05:02 · Archive

Florida Panthers rookie Cooper Black, 6-foot-9, became the tallest goaltender in NHL history in his debut.

Florida Panthers goalie Cooper Black made NHL history in his debut on Thursday, becoming the tallest goaltender to ever appear in an NHL regular-season game. The 25-year-old from Alpena, Michigan, stands 6-foot-9, two inches taller than the previous record holders: Ben Bishop, Ivan Fedotov, Mads Sogaard and Mikko Koskinen, all listed at 6-foot-7.

Black was called up from Florida's AHL affiliate in Charlotte after Jacob Markstrom went down with a shoulder injury. In his first career start against Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena, Black made 18 saves but the Panthers lost 4-0. He stopped defenseman Kris Letang with his blocker pad early in the game and turned aside a breakaway opportunity by forward Rickard Rakell, but conceded a goal to forward Nick Robertson who beat him to the glove side.

Black began playing hockey at age 8 and experienced a dramatic growth spurt between his junior and senior years in high school, shooting up from 6-foot to 6-foot-5 before continuing to grow. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice has praised Black's development in recent years. 'It's cool right, growing up, all the guys you kind of saw and watched as a kid, even as a goalie,' Black said, adding 'would have been nicer to win'.

How it is being reported

• Florida Panthers rookie goalie Cooper Black — all 6-foot-9 of him — makes NHL history in debutFlorida Panthers goalie Cooper Black made NHL history in his debut.Clickorlando · 23 Oct, 01:15
• Florida Panthers rookie goalie Cooper Black — all 6-foot-9 of him — makes NHL history in debutFlorida Panthers goalie Cooper Black made NHL history in his debut.News4Jax · 23 Oct, 01:15

In this story: Cooper Black · Florida Panthers · Pittsburgh Penguins · Alpena, Michigan

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