Black Ace (ice hockey)

Lore & Background

The term 'Black Ace' originates from the poker hand known as the dead man's hand, which includes the two black ace cards. Hockey Hall of Famer Eddie Shore first applied the term in a hockey context when he owned the Springfield Indians of the AHL, using it to refer to extra players on his roster who were returning from injury. Don Cherry, who was one of Shore's Black Aces, wrote in his book *Grapes: A Vintage View of Hockey* that Black Aces not only practiced with the team but also performed extra maintenance around the arena, such as painting seats and selling popcorn.

After the NHL trade deadline, the league's 23-man roster limit ends. Before the 2025-26 NHL season, the salary cap did not apply in the NHL postseason, allowing teams to carry as many Black Aces as desired. Black Aces typically come from the AHL and are not called up until their own season concludes—either after the regular season or after their team is eliminated from the Calder Cup Playoffs. Once called up, they practice and train with the NHL team and are expected to be prepared if a player is injured.

A player must appear in at least 41 regular-season games or at least one Stanley Cup Final game to have their name engraved on the Stanley Cup. Many Black Aces do not automatically qualify, but teams may petition for their inclusion, as the 1994 New York Rangers did for Eddie Olczyk, Mike Hartman, and Mike Hudson. Black Aces celebrate with the team if they win the Stanley Cup, and occasionally they dress in full for the final game without playing the deciding game.

Reader's Guide

The Black Ace role holds a unique place in NHL playoff lore, representing both opportunity and obscurity. These players are essential depth pieces, often sacrificing their own postseason aspirations in the minors to serve as practice bodies and emergency replacements for an NHL club. Their significance is most visible when injuries force them into action, as seen with Joel Kiviranta's hat-trick overtime winner for the Dallas Stars in 2020, or Artūrs Šilovs unexpectedly starting as the Vancouver Canucks' goaltender in 2024 after injuries to both primary netminders. The 1994 New York Rangers' Black Aces were particularly notable: the organization successfully petitioned to have several of them—including Eddie Olczyk, Mike Hartman, and Mike Hudson—engraved on the Stanley Cup despite not meeting the automatic qualification criteria. Ben Smith's 2013 case further illustrates the role's importance: after playing only one game all season, he was inserted into Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final due to injury and earned his name on the Cup by appearing in that single Final game. The Black Ace tradition underscores how playoff success often depends on contributions from players who may never see the ice, yet remain ready to perform when called upon.

Did You Know?

• The term 'Black Ace' comes from the dead man's hand poker hand, which includes the two black ace cards.
• Don Cherry, as a Black Ace for Eddie Shore's Springfield Indians, had to paint seats and sell popcorn in addition to practicing.
• Joel Kiviranta, a Black Ace for the Dallas Stars in 2020, scored a hat-trick including the overtime winner in Game 7 of the second round.
• Artūrs Šilovs was the third goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks in 2024 but started after injuries and recorded his first career NHL shutout in a clinching Game 6.