Kyle Chauvette’s well-prepared to serve in newly created NHL role as emergency backup goalie for the Bruins

Rewind back to March when Chauvette experienced a two-day goalie whirlwind that ended with him serving as San Jose’s EBUG for a game against the Bruins at TD Garden.

A senior at the University of New Hampshire, Chauvette’s college career ended March 11 when the Wildcats were eliminated from the Hockey East playoffs by Northeastern.

While still sore about the loss, Chauvette got up the next day and went about his business as a college student.

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“Obviously there’s a lot of emotions because my college career ended the night before,” said Chauvette, who played three seasons at Union before transferring. “I think it was just really tough. The college season kind of flies by, the years fly by, so a lot of emotions there. The next day I ended up getting up, going to class — I actually had a test that day for an economics class.”

That’s when the nuttiness started.

“I got back to my house on campus at like 2 o’clock, and I remember getting a call from my agent and he was just like, ‘I just need a yes or no answer right now. . . . Do you want to back up for San Jose tonight?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, absolutely,’ ” recalled Chauvette. “So, he called me back five minutes later and ended up giving me the details.”

Chauvette ducked out of his final UNH team meeting a bit early — he was armed with a good excuse — loaded up the car, and headed off for the 75-minute trek south to the Garden.

“I literally got to the rink at like 4 p.m.,” he said.

Once there, he was met by the equipment staff, which did its best to blend Chauvette’s blue and white UNH duds with the Sharks official Pacific teal and white hues.

Chauvette, who was subbing for Yaroslav Askarov after a morning injury left him unavailable, had a quick meeting with starter Alex Nedeljkovic, who did his best to calm his nerves.

Chauvette hit the ice for warmups with his new teammates, many of whom were wondering just who the heck he was. He rotated in with Nedeljkovic, stopped some pucks, and then retreated to the locker room before taking a seat at the end of the Sharks bench for the game.

“A very cool experience,” he said.

Little did he know it wouldn’t be his last as an EBUG.

That night, Chauvette ran into Bruins goalie coach Bob Essensa. The two had known each other for years because Essensa’s son, Jake, and Chauvette played together as teens in the New Hampshire Monarchs organization. Goalie Bob, as Essensa is known by one and all, dropped a bug in Chauvette’s ear that changes might be coming to the EBUG rules and there might be an opportunity in Boston if he was interested.

Sure enough, the EBUG system was revamped in the new collective barganing agreement. No longer would Mike from Malden or Bryan from Quincy be summoned as an emergency fill-in. Now, each team must employ a full-time EBUG to attend practices, morning skates, and games at home and on the road. It’s not unlike being a bullpen catcher in the majors, except EBUGs actually have a chance to get in a game.

It also meant EBUGs can’t have an extensive pro background. Chauvette had to decide whether to pursue a professional roster spot or accept this unique position.

“I kept in touch with [the Bruins] while I was trying to figure out what I was going to do. It was a really tough decision, whether I was going to go and play in the East Coast Hockey League,” said Chauvette. “I thought about doing that as well and continuing to play, but with this role, I could always go back and play if I really wanted. And if I didn’t end up taking this role, and I played in the [ECHL], I wouldn’t have been able to come back into this position right away. So, I felt like it was kind of an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

It’s been a short ride so far, but Chauvette has jumped into his role with energy and enthusiasm. In addition to the hockey, Chauvette has enjoyed the experiences that go along with being part of a team.

“It’s been pretty cool. I’ve been getting to go out there, hop out for practice, take some extra reps whenever guys need it, especially at the end of practice,” he said last week in Dallas. “It’s been fun getting to travel with the team, see a lot of new places, too. I’ve actually never been to California, so I get to go out there for the first time. Never been to Texas … so yeah, it’s really cool. And the guys have been great to me so far. They’ve really made me feel like I’m a part of the team. I’m one of the players, too. I’ve felt really comfortable and everyone’s been really super welcoming.”

He acknowledged there was some apprehension when he first arrived for training camp, about how he’d be received and where he’d fit in.

“I didn’t want to overstep my place. I think at first it was kind of tough to figure out whether, ‘Am I on a staff? Am I a player?’ That kind of thing,” he said. “It definitely took some time to get more comfortable, but yeah, everyone’s been great helping me adjust because obviously, it’s a new role for everyone — not just myself, but the whole league. For Bob Essensa as well, it’s new for him. We’re just kind of working together to make things work out well.”

Bruins No. 1 Jeremy Swayman said Chauvette has been an outstanding fit.

“He’s awesome, man. He’s been so great, just a seamless transition. He’s one of the fellas and I just love his attitude,” said Swayman. “And he even comes in after games and he’s one of the first ones to give you a high five. And I think he’s had such a big impact on the team, and he doesn’t ask for much. He just goes out there, does his work, and we embrace that. He’s literally the perfect guy for this position and we absolutely love having him.”

It’s up to individual teams on how much ice time EBUGs get, but Chauvette has been used quite a bit to help take some of the practice burden off Swayman and backup Michael DiPietro.

His workload will only get heavier as the season moves along, according to Essensa.

“He’s going to earn his stripes when the schedule starts getting a little busier, and certainly down the stretch and in the playoffs,” said Essensa. “When we’re giving our 1A a night off, that would be a perfect opportunity for him to get his work in. But he’s been great. He’s been popping out mid-practice, late practice, staying out after, getting plenty of shots because there’s always guys that are working on things.”

As part of his off-ice duties, Chauvette has been involved in video scouting prospects for the organization. He’s enjoyed learning that side of the hockey business as well.

“I’ve been a goalie coach on the side. Over the summers, I would help coach goalies back home. I’ve had a lot of work with the goaltenders, the technical side of the game, working with a lot of younger kids up and coming,” he said. “I’ve had experience with evaluating goalies and that type of thing. So now it’s going to be nice to learn more about that on a professional level working with Bob and [Providence goalie coach] Mike Dunham and [assistant general manager Jeremy Rogalski] and everyone.”

Swayman had Thursday off from his goaltending duties, but he was still front and center for the Bruins on one of the most significant days on the team’s calendar.

Swayman was the team ambassador for the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer initiative — a cause that has always been close to his heart, but has special significance this season. He said he has “multiple” connections to the cause.

“The closest one right now that is near and dear is my Aunt Jill,” Swayman said. “She’s out in Colorado and she’s going through colon cancer. And that’s something that came out of left field. She’s a woman that deserves the farthest thing from cancer. A salt-of-the-earth person, a mother of three who puts a smile on her face every day. I just have so much pride and respect for her.

“In my little way, this is about reflecting on how much I love her.”

Following a shutout win over the Predators, Swayman participated in a meet-and-greet at the Garden with pediatric cancer patients and their families. It came just weeks after Swayman and some of his teammates, dressed as characters from the “Toy Story” franchise, participated in a pre-Halloween visit with pediatric patients at local hospitals.

Among those on hand for the Bruins visit to Mass. General and Swayman’s meet-and-greet was 12-year-old Juliana Pinhancos, a hockey player herself, who said it was “really cool” to meet Swayman. Juliana watched the game with her parents, Freddy and Jennifer, and her younger sister, Mila, who also plays hockey. The North Attleborough family are lifelong Bruins fans.

Swayman said visiting and interacting with patients is something he enjoys because he knows it takes their minds off their battles, even if just for a little while.

“It’s exactly what we want to do,” said Swayman, who welcomed his first child, son Briggs, over the summer. “Now, especially having a kid, it’s a different connection and a different world going in there. I want to be a positive impact and obviously a great person that people can look at to get their minds off of just really, really hard things they’re going through. And I just love interacting with people in times like that.

“And obviously when they get over the hump, it’s an incredible feat and I want to be there for all the positive things that I can.”

Alaska-born Swayman has made it a point to ingrain himself in the community since his arrival in Boston. He’s become one of the city’s most recognizable athletes.

“I came from a small community, so you know the impact that it has when a person of bigger stature comes in and takes initiative in a community is huge,” said Swayman. “I looked at Boston like an opportunity, this huge city. I was pretty intimidated, but at the same time I found little nooks, and I found different avenues that I could be impactful on and have connection with.

“And now I’m really finding that Boston isn’t that big and it’s so cool to have different connections with people and I love that.”

Quiz time: On the Bruins’ all-time scoring list, who is the leader among American-born players? ... With the Connor Hellebuyck drama finally settled Friday when the Jets traded the goalie (the Devils got a bargain from this view), the question remains: When will the turbulence end in Detroit? Perhaps movement is coming, with center Dylan Larkin reportedly expanding his list of acceptable trade destinations to 10 last week. The more intriguing Red Wings situation involves top defender Simon Edvinsson, who remains a holdout. Perhaps packaging Larkin and Edvinsson (who is just 23) in a blockbuster could provide some youthful energy and enthusiasm in Hockeytown, which hasn’t seen a playoff game in a decade. The Bruins always seem to get linked to Larkin (Boston is not on his list) and Edvinsson (what team wouldn’t want a top-pair defender?), but it doesn’t seem logical to mess with the karma this team has going for it on the ice and in the room ... Speaking of young, top-pair blue liners, last week marked the 60th anniversary of Bobby Orr’s Bruins debut (Oct. 19, 1966). The greatest of all time had an assist in a 6-2 win over the Red Wings ... Leftover nugget from the Bruins kickoff golf tournament was the appearance by Chase Hertog, who won a gold medal representing Team Massachusetts along with his father, Steve, in Unified Golf at the 2025 Special Olympics. Hertog was a designated driver on one hole, and foursomes could use his drive or their own in the scramble format. “Chase hits it straight. He can drive it about 200 yards down the fairway,” said Steve ... Aside to ESPN analyst P.K. Subban: You’re trying way too hard with those outfits ... A little history was made last week when Cooper Black became the tallest goalie in NHL history. The 6-foot-9-inch Black made 18 saves in the Panthers’ 4-0 road loss to the Penguins. “A man that size, it takes a long time to grow into that body,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice, among the best quotes in the NHL, told reporters. He then added with a chuckle: “I think he’s done.” ... Supporting the home team: Boston superfan and Hollywood superstar Mark Wahlberg’s presence can now be felt at every Bruins game. The Dorchester homie’s tequila, Flecha Azul, is available at concession stands throughout TD Garden ... RIP Ron Duguay, who passed away after a cancer battle at 69 last week. Duguay played 864 regular-season games (mostly with the Rangers and Red Wings) in the 1970s and ’80s and registered 274 goals and 620 points. He later became known to a new wave of Rangers fans as a broadcaster from 2008-17 ... Quiz answer: Charlie McAvoy, who went into Saturday night’s game against the Sharks with 367 points. Peter McNab (587 points) was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, but represented the United States internationally after moving to San Diego when he was 14.

From the source Jim McBride can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @globejimmcbride.