33-year-old journeyman Zepp to make NHL debut

33-year-old journeyman, Rob Zepp, allows a goal during preseason action. He will make his NHL debut on Sunday.

For some people your dreams come true after a lot of hard work, perseverance, and a little luck.

Rob Zepp is one of those people.

At 33-years-old, Zepp will make his NHL debut with the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday when they play the Winnipeg Jets.

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With the Flyers playing without starter Steve Mason for the weekend, who injured himself during practice on Friday, and playing back-to-back games, the club was in need of a second goaltender. Zepp dressed but served as the backup to Ray Emery for Saturday’s victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the duo will swap roles for Sunday’s contest.

Zepp, a veteran journeyman, has played professional hockey since graduating from the Ontario Hockey League in 2001, and has spent most of the past decade playing in Europe, including the last seven with the Berlin Polar Bears of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.

Last season he was 24-14-0 with a 2.39 goals-against average, and .931 save percentage in 38 games.

Zepp then signed with the Flyers in the summer and has played with their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, where he’s gone 8-5-4 with a 2.70 GAA, and a .918 SV% in 17 games this season.

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