Carolina Hurricanes: Ghosts of Goaltenders Past
By Jeb Bohn
![27 Nov 2001: Goaltender Tom Barrasso #35 of the Carolina Huricanes guards the net during the NHL game against the Toronto Malple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. The Hurricanes defeated the Maple Leafs 5-2. Mandatory Copyright Notice: 2001 NHLI Mandatory Credit: Dave Sandford/Getty Images/NHLI 27 Nov 2001: Goaltender Tom Barrasso #35 of the Carolina Huricanes guards the net during the NHL game against the Toronto Malple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. The Hurricanes defeated the Maple Leafs 5-2. Mandatory Copyright Notice: 2001 NHLI Mandatory Credit: Dave Sandford/Getty Images/NHLI](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/425a192cb2c5a9b76b8b9455889e087f3c89bf75f0ae67c12f065d1e5285a9f1.jpg)
Mark Fitzpatrick
An original member of the Florida Panthers, Mark Fitzpatrick signed with the Carolina Hurricanes in August of 1999. Starting the season with the Cincinnati Cyclones in the IHL, Fitzpatrick was recalled after Eric Fichaud was claimed on waivers by Montreal.
In what would be the veteran’s last taste of NHL hockey, Fitzpatrick made three appearances, none of which were incredibly positive. Of those appearances, only one was as a starter, a 5-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators in which he stopped 40 of 45 shots. In his final game, a 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins, Fitzpatrick played all of 1:09, facing no shots.
Following his time with the Hurricanes, Fitzpatrick spent one season with the IHL’s Detroit Vipers before retiring.
Reflections: There’s not much to say about Fitzpatrick’s time with the Hurricanes however I’ll always remember him as John Vanbiesbrouck‘s backup on the Panthers and their unexpected run to the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals.