Super size fries and a goaltender

CEDAR RAPIDS - He's already played for teams in Tulsa, Okla., Marquette, Mich., and Dubuque this hockey season, so Sunday was nothing for Zac Enstrom.

The well-traveled goaltender joined the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders from the Tier III Junior ‘A' Dubuque Thunderbirds on an emergency backup basis when Troy Grosenick was deemed unavailable after suffering a concussion late in a

Saturday victory against Des Moines.

The Thunderbirds actually were on a bus headed to a game in Peoria, Ill., when a call from Riders head coach/general manager Mark Carlson was made late Sunday morning to Dubuque head coach Joe Coombs. Not even the high-school RoughRiders' No. 1 goaltender was available because of injury.

“I was actually taking a nap on the bus, Coach Coombs came over, woke me up and said ‘How would you like to play with Cedar Rapids today?'” Enstrom said. “I'm like ‘Yeah, sure, absolutely.' I'm still half asleep.

"He was like 'OK, we're going to pull over and drop you off here. Here's one of their coach's (phone) number, he'll be here in about an hour to pick you up. Let me know how it goes.'"

And that's exactly what happened.

The Thunderbirds dropped Enstrom off at a McDonald's in the Quad Cities. RoughRiders assistant coach Jeff Dwyer rented a car (his is out of commission), picked him up and drove him to Cedar Rapids, where he served as backup to Cody Campbell.

 After a postgame shower, Enstrom hopped in a car with RoughRiders owner Jeff Jauch and was taken back to Dubuque.

“I've dealt with something like this before in the (minor-pro) East Coast (Hockey) League,” said Dwyer about trying to find a goaltender at the last second. “Where you basically go to the local bar and ask the bartender if he knows how to wear goalie skates.

"I got on the road about 12, got to the McDonald's in the Quad Cities. Exit 306. I walked in, and (Enstrom) was sitting in a booth with his equipment. It was great. He's a trooper.”

A 19-year-old from South Windsor, Conn., Enstrom still hopes to play some day in the USHL. He has literally traveled the country this winter trying to get there.

That includes making about a five-hour stay in Cedar Rapids.

"Yeah, I'm kind of used to this,” he said. “I guess I'm kind of a human suitcase.”