Maple Leafs sign University of Toronto goalie Alexander to ATO, will be backup vs. Habs

April 08, 2023 - 6:19pm

Jett Alexander (1) of the Colorado Avalanche stretches during the warm-up prior to action against the Toronto Maple Leafs in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 1, 2021 in Toronto. The Maple Leafs defeated the Avalanche 8-3. (Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed goaltender Jett Alexander to an amateur tryout agreement on Saturday.

Alexander will be the backup to starter Ilya Samsonov in the team's evening game against the Montreal Canadiens.

The 23-year-old from Bloomfield, Ont., attends the University of Toronto and posted a 12-7-2 record, 2.22 goals-against average and .927 save percentage in 22 games with the Varsity Blues this season.

He served as an emergency backup for the Colorado Avalanche when they visited the Maple Leafs on Dec. 2, 2021. Alexander did not play as he remained in the dressing room until Colorado's Justus Annunen arrived for the second period.

Toronto is short a backup goalie with No. 2 netminder Matt Murray out with a head injury and third-stringer Joseph Woll returned to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League following his emergency recall.