Former Rider Stalock wins NHL debut

How's that for a National Hockey League debut?

Former Cedar Rapids RoughRiders goaltender Alex Stalock came on in relief of starter Antti Niemi midway through the second period of the San Jose Sharks' home game Tuesday night against Phoenix, stopped all nine shots he faced and got the win as San Jose rallied from 3-0 down and won, 5-3.

Stalock, the MVP of the Clark Cup finals in 2005, played two seasons for the RoughRiders before playing three years for Minnesota-Duluth. He played last season and this season for the AHL's Worcester Sharks and was called up to San Jose two weeks ago without playing.

"(Coach Todd McLellan) just looked down and said 'Alex, you're going in,' " Stalock told the San Jose Mercury-News. "I just threw on the gear and went out. I didn't have time to have any nerves."

Stalock is the ninth former RoughRider to play in the NHL. He is the second goalie, following

Richard Bachman earlier this season with the

Dallas Stars.