Orland Park's Gust Scores In Magical NHL Debut With Chicago Blackhawks

ORLAND PARK, IL — Not that long ago, David Gust felt like he reached the point where he was ready to hang up his hockey skates after toiling so long in the minor leagues.

But when the 29-year-old Orland Park native did finally get called up to the National Hockey League – and with his hometown Chicago Blackhawks no less – Gust wasted no time in turning Saturday night’s 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks a night he or his family would never forget.

Gust scored his first NHL career goal on the first shift of his first game as the Hawks, playing without Patrick Kane who is on the verge of being traded, won their fifth straight game.

Gust’s parents made the trip to San Jose in quick order after the Hawks originally had planned to wait until Monday night’s game to debut Gust against the Anaheim Ducks. However, when plans changed, so did his parents’ itinerary. Gust made sure the sudden shift in destinations was worth it.

“In the intermission, I saw them bawling their eyes out,” Gust told reporters after Saturday’s shootout victory.

“That was special to them.”

The wait proved to be worth it.

Gust, who played collegiate hockey at Ohio State, had bounced around minor league hockey and at age 27, with his wife pregnant, decided that his playing days were over. But then the Hawks offered Gust a chance to make his mark with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League. He made the most of it, becoming an AHL All-Star this season with 24 goals and 26 assists in Rockford and quickly playing himself onto the radar of the Hawks’ front office.

Gust, who spent the previous two seasons with the Chicago Wolves, after stints in Charlotte in Bakersfield, had only once previously tallied 20 goals in a season before this year's breakout performance with the IceHogs, for whom he played in 51 games before last week's call-up.

With the Hawks roster in flux ahead of the NHL trade deadline, including preparing to trade Kane to the New York Rangers, general manager Kyle Davidson offered Gust a two-year contract with the Hawks – one day ahead of his 29th birthday.

"He put the work in and performed and did everything we asked of him. Fortunately enough, we were able to reward him with an NHL contract and a game,” Davidson told reporters in San Jose on Saturday.

“He’s just one of those culture guys. He’s going to do whatever the coach asks him. He’s going to play the game the right way. And that’s a great example for older players, younger players, and those are the kind of guys you want on your team.”

The Athletic reported that Gust’s parents, Kelly and Dave, originally booked a flight to San Jose but then canceled it after learning that Gust would likely make his NHL debut in Anaheim on Monday. But when they got word that their son would instead be in the lineup Saturday night against the Sharks, Kelly and Dave Gust made sure they were in the stands for their son’s big night.

The Hawks made sure the proud parents could be on hand, arranging for a flight to San Jose on Saturday and tickets for the game that night.

And on the first shot of his first shift, Gust’s shot found the back of the net.

“I kept saying, ‘Oh, my god. Oh my god,” Kelly said, according to the Athletic. “I go, ‘Did he get that?’”

Afterward, Davidson said that the moment was not lost on the team that made Gust’s NHL dreams come true.

“It’s unbelievable,” Davidson told reporters. “It’s a really unique story – debut at 29, kind of contemplated not even playing anymore in the summer. So, it’s awesome.”

Gust, whose wife is expecting a baby girl, tends to agree.

“First shift, can’t write it any better,” Gust told reporters after the Blackhawks’ win on Saturday. “(I was) like, ‘Holy smokes, that was fast. And can’t believe it happened.”