[irbefan4life]

Today's addition is of an NHL goaltender you have likely never heard of, yet despite that, his is a name that should be remembered like any goalie who made the league.

His name, Cody Rudkowsky. This goaltender was born on July 21, 1978 in Willingdon, Alberta, Canada. Never drafted, he was signed as a free agent after having a respectable WHL career with the Seattle Thunderbirds. After his signing in 1999, he bounced a lot between the American Hockey League and the East Coast Hockey League up until 2002-03. Then it happened. On October 24, 2002, after an injury to Curtis Sanford against the Edmonton Oilers, Rudkowsky was put in net for the last 30 minutes of the game. As the Blues battled back to win 2-1 in the game, Rudkowsky was given credit for this victory. He never played in an NHL game again after that. He continued his bouncing between the AHL and ECHL before retiring from hockey at the conclusion of the 2007-08 season. In his career, Rudkowsky recorded a 1-0-0 record with 10 saves and a 1.000% save average.

This blocker was used by Rudkowsky in the 2002-03 season and was originally acquired from the St. Louis Blues locker room sale. Battered by marks and autographed, it is an impressive piece of an oft-forgotten goaltender.

Acquired from: eBay collector, originally from Blues Locker Room sale

Dates of Game Use: 2002-03 season (NHL/AHL/ECHL)

Photomatched: Possibly, to Upper Deck's 2002-03 SP Game Used card of Rudkowsky. Several marks seem to match up.