Florida Panthers goalie Cooper Black (31) clears the puck in front of Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell (67) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (Image Credit: AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
tallest ever
Former Clipper netminder earns NHL debut, sets new record
Oct 23, 2026 | 10:26 AM
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NANAIMO — A towering former Clippers netminder has made his National Hockey League debut, setting a new record in the process.
Cooper Black led the Florida Panthers onto the ice on Thursday, Oct. 22, stopping 18 of 21 shots in a 4-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, becoming the tallest goaltender to ever appear in a regular-season game at 6’9″.
Black was called up from Florida’s AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, to provide cover while Panthers’ starter Jacob Markstrom recovers from a shoulder injury.
“It’s cool, right? Growing up, all the guys you kind of saw and watched as a kid, even as a goalie,” Black said after the game. “Cool experience to play against the guys, would have been nicer to win.”
