The man who survived the longest game in college hockey
In short: In 2015, Cal Petersen faced a marathon on the ice that pushed the limits of human endurance. While most collegiate games end in minutes, this one stretched into five overtimes, forcing Petersen to set a staggering Division I record for saves in a single night.
Cal Petersen's path to the NHL was defined by a deliberate choice to prioritize education over immediate professional gains. After being drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 2013, he bypassed a professional contract to play three seasons at the University of Notre Dame. This decision allowed him to develop as a goaltender under the spotlight of NCAA Division I hockey, where he eventually served as team captain.
The defining moment of his collegiate career occurred on March 6, 2015, during a Hockey East playoff matchup against the UMass Minutemen. The game became a historic anomaly, lasting five overtimes. During this marathon, Petersen recorded 87 saves, setting a new Division I record. Despite his record-breaking performance, Notre Dame ultimately suffered a 4–3 overtime loss. His resilience during this period earned him accolades, including the Hockey East All-Rookie Team and the All-Academic Team.
Petersen's professional journey began in 2017 with the Los Angeles Kings. His transition to the NHL was marked by a rapid ascent in late 2018, where he recorded his first win against the Chicago Blackhawks and his first career shutout against the St. Louis Blues within just eight days of his debut. Over the next several years, he navigated various roles, including a trade to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2023 and eventually signing with the Minnesota Wild in 2025. His career reflects the grueling nature of the sport, balancing high-pressure starts with developmental stints in the AHL.
Petersen follows a lineage of goaltending; his father, Eric, also played the position at Bethel University in Minnesota. This familial connection to the crease serves as a backdrop to Cal's career, which has spanned multiple organizations including the Kings, Flyers, and Wild, as well as representing the United States on the international stage at the 2023 IIHF World Championship.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Cal Petersen
- Also: www.nhl.com — Cal Petersen Stats | NHL.com
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